Phedimus ellacombeanus

Named for the Victorian plant enthusiast Canon Ellacombe — a man who genuinely loved giving plants to friends and receiving them in return — Phedimus ellacombeanus is a generous plant in every sense. It spreads enthusiastically into a semi-evergreen clump of bright green, scalloped leaves, growing 6 to 8 inches tall and spreading well beyond that. In late spring and early summer it produces cheerful yellow flowers in flat-topped clusters that cover the plant thoroughly.

Hardy to Zone 4 and reliably performing in Pacific Northwest gardens, P. ellacombeanus handles our mild wet winters and summer dry periods with the equanimity of a plant that's been in cultivation for well over a century and has seen everything. It's a vigorous groundcover suited to banks, hillsides, and large rock garden areas where coverage is the goal — less appropriate for small, detailed compositions where it may overwhelm more delicate companions. The kind of plant that rewards generosity — give it space and it gives you a lot in return.