Threeleaf Goldthread
Coptis trifolia
Also listed as Coptis groenlandica, Anemone groenlandica
Also known as Goldthread, American Goldthread, Canker-root
Climate Match for your location
See how well Threeleaf Goldthread grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
A low-growing evergreen perennial groundcover with three-lobed leaves and delicate white flowers, thriving in shaded woodland conditions. Traditionally used in herbal medicine for its bitter rhizomes.
Why grow it
Threeleaf goldthread offers reliable evergreen cover in deep shade where many groundcovers struggle, and its fine texture and small white flowers provide subtle visual interest in woodland settings. Compared to other shade groundcovers like common periwinkle, it spreads more slowly and requires consistently moist soil, making it better suited to naturalized areas than to quick coverage. Its rhizomes have been used traditionally in herbal preparations, though modern cultivation is primarily ornamental.
Watch out for
This species prefers consistently moist to wet soil and may decline in dry shade or heavy clay without amendment. It can take several seasons to establish from divisions or seedlings before it begins spreading noticeably, so patience is needed when establishing new plantings. In warmer climates outside its native range, it may struggle with heat and humidity during growing season.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Ranunculaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alaska, Connecticut, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A low-growing evergreen perennial groundcover with three-lobed leaves and delicate white flowers, thriving in shaded woodland conditions. Traditionally used in herbal medicine for its bitter rhizomes.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Threeleaf Goldthread grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Threeleaf goldthread offers reliable evergreen cover in deep shade where many groundcovers struggle, and its fine texture and small white flowers provide subtle visual interest in woodland settings. Compared to other shade groundcovers like common periwinkle, it spreads more slowly and requires consistently moist soil, making it better suited to naturalized areas than to quick coverage. Its rhizomes have been used traditionally in herbal preparations, though modern cultivation is primarily ornamental.
Watch out for
This species prefers consistently moist to wet soil and may decline in dry shade or heavy clay without amendment. It can take several seasons to establish from divisions or seedlings before it begins spreading noticeably, so patience is needed when establishing new plantings. In warmer climates outside its native range, it may struggle with heat and humidity during growing season.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Ranunculaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alaska, Connecticut, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar ground covers you might consider:
Enter your ZIP code to see top native species and strong climate fits for you.