Fringe Cups
Tellima grandiflora
Also listed as Tellima odorata, Mitella acerifolia
Also known as Fringecup, Big-flowered Fringecup, Bigflower Tellima
Climate Match for your location
See how well Fringe Cups grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Fringe cups is a woodland perennial with attractive rounded leaves that deepen in color with cooler temperatures, topped by delicate sprays of small pink or red flowers in spring. It makes an excellent groundcover or edging plant in shaded gardens.
Why grow it
Fringe cups tolerates deeper shade and drier conditions than many comparable woodland groundcovers, making it useful where other perennials struggle. Its foliage interest extends well beyond the spring flowering period, with leaves that shift color with seasonal temperature changes. The plant spreads steadily without aggressive spread, offering moderate coverage for woodland edges and shaded borders.
Watch out for
Performance varies by region and is most reliable in cooler climates; in warm, humid lowlands it may decline in vigor. The plant prefers consistent moisture during establishment and can thin out if grown in very dry shade for extended periods. Self-seeding can occur in ideal conditions, so deadheading may be needed if volunteer seedlings become unwanted.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Saxifragaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Pacific Northwest (Oregon and California)
Native to: Alaska, California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Notable Cultivars
'Odorata' is valued for its fragrant flowers and deeper red coloration. 'Rubra' features particularly dark reddish foliage that persists through winter.
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Fringe cups is a woodland perennial with attractive rounded leaves that deepen in color with cooler temperatures, topped by delicate sprays of small pink or red flowers in spring. It makes an excellent groundcover or edging plant in shaded gardens.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Fringe Cups grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Fringe cups tolerates deeper shade and drier conditions than many comparable woodland groundcovers, making it useful where other perennials struggle. Its foliage interest extends well beyond the spring flowering period, with leaves that shift color with seasonal temperature changes. The plant spreads steadily without aggressive spread, offering moderate coverage for woodland edges and shaded borders.
Watch out for
Performance varies by region and is most reliable in cooler climates; in warm, humid lowlands it may decline in vigor. The plant prefers consistent moisture during establishment and can thin out if grown in very dry shade for extended periods. Self-seeding can occur in ideal conditions, so deadheading may be needed if volunteer seedlings become unwanted.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Saxifragaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Pacific Northwest (Oregon and California)
Native to: Alaska, California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar herbs you might consider:
Enter your ZIP code to see top native species and strong climate fits for you.
Companion Planting
Plants well with
Notable Cultivars
'Odorata' is valued for its fragrant flowers and deeper red coloration. 'Rubra' features particularly dark reddish foliage that persists through winter.