Hydrophyllum virginianum aka John's Cabbage

Hydrophyllum virginianum is known as Virginia waterleaf. This wildflower lives for more than one year. Other names are eastern waterleaf and Shawnee salad. It is part of the Boraginaceae family. It is native to central and eastern Canada and the United States. It grows in damp woods, thickets, and stream valleys. Its range runs from Quebec and Manitoba south to Oklahoma. It also reaches south to Tennessee and North Carolina.

Plants grow upright to 1–2 feet [0.30–0.61 metres] tall and wide. They spread through rhizomes and seeds to form large groups. The stems have few branches. They may be green or reddish-brown, smooth or a little hairy. Green leaves grow in turn along the stems. They have deep lobes and coarse teeth along their edges. Lower leaves have deeper cuts than those near the top. Leaves reach about 0.83 feet [0.25 metres] long. Some young leaves have white marks in spring. These look like water spots. Later leaves lose these marks. The plant sheds its leaves each year.

Small flowers shaped like bells grow in groups above the leaves. They can be white, lilac, or pink. Stamens reach out past the flower bells. Each group holds about eight to twenty flowers. Most blooms appear in May and June. North Carolina State also notes blooms from March onward. Some plants have a few blooms as late as August. Bumblebees and small carpenter bees visit the flowers. Other bees with long tongues visit them too. Round seed capsules form after the blooms. They split in July and August to release their seeds.

Give this plant rich soil that stays moist but drains well. Part shade or light shade in woods suits it. It copes with wet ground. It likes soil rich in organic matter. Most garden care sources list USDA zones 4–8. Chicago Botanic Garden lists zones 3–6. The plant grows fast and needs little routine care. Use it as ground cover under trees or beside streams. It also suits shady borders and pond edges. It can spread too much for small gardens. Sources note no major pest or disease problems. Deer may eat its leaves.

You can add young leaves and shoots to salads. You can also cook the leaves. Older growth can taste bitter, though. Plants For A Future lists no known hazards. This does not mean the plant is safe for pets. In the past, people used root preparations for diarrhoea and dysentery. They also used roots for bleeding and mouth sores. These records show past use, not proven treatments.