Tellima grandiflora aka Fringecups

Tellima grandiflora, also known as bigflower tellima or fringecups, is a unique herbaceous perennial plant that belongs to the Saxifragaceae family. It is the sole species in the Tellima genus. This mound-forming plant has semi-evergreen foliage with dark green leaves that are veined with silvery purple. During the summer, erect flower stems emerge, bearing fringed pale green white flowers that gradually turn pinkish-red as they age. Tellima grandiflora thrives better in cooler climates rather than hot and humid ones. Native to moist woods and slopes from Alaska to Idaho and central California, this clump-forming perennial, also called fringecup, shares similarities in appearance with Heuchera, Tiarella, and Mitella. It features toothed, shallowly-lobed, rounded, and hairy dark green leaves that grow in a basal clump, reaching up to 10" in height. In warmer winters, these leaves may be tinged with purple and are semi-evergreen. The bell-shaped flowers of Tellima grandiflora are greenish-white, measuring 1/2" in length, and have five reflexed fringed petals, resembling tiny "fringed cups." These flowers bloom in late spring, forming terminal racemes on wiry stems that rise well above the foliage, resulting in a total plant height of 24" when in flower. As the flowers mature, they transition to a pink hue. False alum root is another common name associated with this plant. The specific epithet "grandiflora" refers to its large flowers.