Vancouveria planipetala aka Redwood Inside Out Flower

Vancouveria planipetala is a low plant that spreads. It belongs to the barberry family, Berberidaceae. Common names include small inside-out flower and redwood ivy. It comes from southwestern Oregon and western California. Oregon State puts its range's south end in mid-California. Kew calls the climate in its native range temperate. It grows from rhizomes, or stems beneath the soil. This makes it a perennial, not an annual. It lives for more than one year. Its low form suits the shaded ground layer in gardens.

Plants grow about 0.5–1 foot (0.15–0.3 metres) tall. Some reach 2 feet (0.6 metres), above the usual range. The plant spreads, but the sources give no mature width. Most leaves grow close to the ground. Each compound leaf has three small leaf parts, called leaflets. Some leaves have five rather than three. The leaflets have shallow lobes and feel somewhat like leather. Each is about 1.6 inches long and just as wide. The tops are glossy and dark green. These leaves make this a broadleaf plant. It keeps its leaves when the growing conditions suit it. In cold winters, though, it sheds its leaves.

The flowers form upright groups, or clusters, above the low leaves. Each group holds about 25–30 blooms. The flowers are white; some have lavender tones. Their stamens are about 2 millimetres long. The species name refers to the plant's flat petals. The supplied account gives no bloom season for this species. Nor does it give fruit details for this species. The leaves and raised blooms give gardens two distinct features. The leaves form a low layer near the ground. The groups of flowers rise above that layer.

Grow this plant in part sun through full shade. Oregon State advises acid soil rich in organic matter. It says cool, moist sites give the best results. The plant's hardiness rating starts at USDA Zone 6. To grow more plants, divide them in spring or fall. It spreads and grows in shade beneath taller garden plants. Plan for leaf loss where winters turn cold. The supplied evidence gives no advice on pests or disease. It gives no basis to judge whether eating it is safe. Nor does it show whether the plant is toxic. These gaps do not prove that the plant is safe.