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Maple-shaped leaves of meadow alumroot (Heuchera chlorantha). One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, native plant nursery in Portland, Oregon.
Close up of the flowering stalk of meadow alumroot (Heuchera chlorantha) covered in small green-white flowers. One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, native plant nursery in Portland, Oregon.
Flowering habit of meadow alumroot (Heuchera chlorantha). One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, native plant nursery in Portland, Oregon.

Meadow Alumroot

$4.95
$4.95

Heuchera chlorantha

Meadow alumroot is a graceful, clump-forming native perennial with soft green, maple-shaped leaves. Through late spring and early summer, it sends up slender but strong flower stalks, topped with tight clusters of greenish white blooms that seem to float above the foliage. Blooms are exceptionally long-lasting and provide nectar for native pollinators during late spring and into summer. As the flowers fade and change to seed, the erect stems turn a soft red. This plant is a beautiful addition to woodland edges, borders, and habitat gardens where both ecological and aesthetic functions are valued.

  • Plant type/canopy layer: semi-deciduous, perennial, herbaceous plant
  • Size at maturity: 12-42” high, about 18” wide 
  • Light requirements: part sun, part-sun/part-shade, full shade
  • Moisture requirements: moist soil, should be well-drained
  • Bloom time: May - August
  • Growth rate/ease: medium growth rate, easy to grow
  • Wildlife support: flowers attract and support hummingbirds, bees and other native pollinators; foliage is eaten by insects (which are in turn eaten by birds, amphibian and more), provides cover for small creatures, and shades the soil; overall plants is a host plant for Greya politella moth larvae, which feed on its stems
  • Native habitat/range: this species inhabits moist prairies or meadows, grassy bluffs, rocky slopes and forest edges and openings, at low to mid elevations of 100-1200m, spanning the Pacific Northwest from the Queen Charlotte Islands of British Columbia south through Western Washington and Oregon, extending slightly into northwestern California. There’s also a few isolated communities in eastern Oregon and Idaho. Portland Plant List - technically no, but there are records of it in Urbanizing Fauna, so…yes, it’s locally native. 
  • Special features & uses: deer resistant; landscape uses include container gardening and small landscapes, pollinator gardens and rock gardens 

Gardening with Meadow Alumroot: This is an excellent plant for partly shady meadows and edges. It can thrive with a wide range of sunlight, with more tolerance for sun in cooler climates - and with more sun, comes more flowers. To help it thrive, plant it in areas with moist, well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter. Be sure to water deeply but infrequently during dry periods for at least the first two years to encourage deep roots and plants that are eventually quite drought resistant. Leave foliage in place over winter to protect the crown (and overwintering arthropods).

In the right conditions, meadow alumroot will spread slowly to form a lovely colony over many years. Or, do yourself a favor and start out by planting a small drift or clump of at least three to five of them. Plant them along woodland edges, in partially shaded meadows, borders, pathways and rock gardens. Try it with wild black gooseberry (Ribes divaricatum), snowberries (Symphoricarpos albus), native bunch grasses, ferns and other part-sun loving perennials such as Oregon iris (Iris tenax), early blue violet (Viola adunca) and golden-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium californicum). 

Photo Credit 1 (foliage): © Ed Alverson, some rights reserved (CC-BY)

Photo Credit 2 (flower stalk): © David Anderson, some rights reserved (CC-BY)

Photo Credit 3 (flowering habit): "tall alumroot" by Tom Erler is marked with CC0 1.0.

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