Plant Min Zone: 4a
Plant Max Zone: 8a
Sunlight: Part Sun, Shade
Water / Rainfall: Low, Average
Soil Quality: Average, Rich
Bloom Season: Summer
Flower Color: White
Berry / Fruit Color: None
Spring Foliage Color: Green, Silver-Grey
Summer Foliage Color: Green
Fall Foliage Color: Green
Evergreen Foliage: No
Winter Interest: No
Scented Flowers: No
Drought Tolerance: Medium, High
Wet-Feet Tolerance: Low
Humidity Tolerance: Medium
Wind Tolerance: Low, Medium
Poor Soil Tolerance: No Extreme Soils
Height: 1' - 2'
Width: 1' - 2'
Growth Rate: Slow
Service Life: Very Long: 10-20 years
Maintenance Need: Low
Spreading Potential: Extremely Low
Yearly Trimming Tips: Trim Perennial to Ground Around First Fall Freeze: No Winter Interest.
Plant Grouping Size: Specimen Planting of 1-3, Small Grouping of 3-5
Best Side of House: East Exposure, North Exposure
Extreme Planting Locations: Resistant to Rabbits
Ornamental Features: Multiple Seasons of Interest, Fine Texture, Exceptional / Colorful Foliage
Special Landscape Uses: None
Possible Pest Problems: None
Plant Limitations: None
Japanese Shredded Umbrella Plant (Syneilesis aconitifolia) is a perennial with bright green dissected leaves cascade downward like an umbrella. Emerging foliage is covered with a unique white fur. It spreads very slowly by creeping rhizomes that form a tight clump after many years. Fine-textured foliage is quite dense; it forming a tight weed resistant covering. White flowers on mauve pink calyxes tower above the foliage in midsummer but are not especially attractive unless viewed up close. Some gardeners cut the flowers promptly to avoid distraction from the amazing foliage. Japanese Shredded Umbrella Plant prefers rich average to moist well-drained soils with morning sun to full shade. However, being a tolerant plant, is adaptable to both dry and moist locations and will grow quite nicely in mild dry shade. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. There is virtually no maintenance accept cutting down in fall after the first hard freeze. It is also suggested that if allowing flowering to occur, to deadhead the flowers after blooming as they are not attractive either. There are no pest, disease, or browser problems. This plant is a great underused specimen for the shade garden worthy of more wide scale use in the landscape. Having persisted in our Lawrence, KS display garden with no problems for over a decade, this is a "must have" if and when available to purchase!