Vancouveria hexandra aka Northern Inside Out Flower

Vancouveria hexandra is a low woodland perennial in the barberry family. Its common names include American barrenwort and inside-out flower. It grows wild from Washington through Oregon to northwestern California. Its home includes moist coastal woods west of the Cascades. This plant spreads through underground rhizomes and forms a leafy mat.

Garden plants stand about 1–1.5 feet [0.30–0.46 metres] tall. Some accounts give heights near 1.6 feet [0.50 metres]. Their spread reaches about 1–1.5 feet [0.30–0.46 metres] or more. The mat expands slowly as the rhizomes grow. Young stems are thin and wiry. Most leaves rise from near ground level. The compound leaves bear thin, lobed leaflets with heart-shaped bases. Their shape can recall a duck's foot. Leaf colour ranges from pale green to blue-green. Sparse hairs grow beneath the leaves. Leaf stalks turn straw-coloured with age. The foliage is deciduous, though some plants stay nearly evergreen.

White flowers hang from open clusters above the leaves. Each bloom has six petals that bend sharply backwards. This shape gives the plant its inside-out flower name. The flowers grow on bare stems, clear of the foliage. A cluster can hold about 25–30 small blooms. The main season falls in late spring and early summer. Chicago Botanic Garden lists bloom periods from May through August. The flowers add a light display above the low leaves.

Grow this plant in partial or full shade. It suits cool sites with rich soil and good drainage. Keep the soil moist rather than letting it dry out. Loam rich in organic matter suits it well. Sources favour acid soil, though RHS also lists neutral and alkaline soils. RHS lists clay, loam and sand as suitable soil types. Hot, dry summers can cause poor growth. Shelter from drying winds helps protect the plants. Chicago Botanic Garden lists USDA zones 5–9. Oregon State gives zone 6 as its hardiness limit. RHS rates it H7 for UK conditions.

Use it as ground cover in small shaded spaces. It also suits woodland gardens, path edges and border fronts. It can grow beneath trees or in partly shaded rock gardens. Care needs are low, and it needs no pruning. Divide plants in spring; Oregon State also lists autumn division. Another option is sowing ripe seed in a cold frame. RHS gives one to two years to maturity. Serious pest and disease trouble is uncommon, though vine weevil may occur. The supplied sources give no species-level guidance on edibility or toxicity.