Hydrophyllum capitatum - Cat's Breeches

Family:	Hydrophyllaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.5
Synonyms:
Range:	Western N. America - Alberta to British Columbia, south to Oregon and Colorado.

Hydrophyllum capitatum (Cat's Breeches) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.5m . It has a hardness rating of 5.
The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by

Soil Information

Cat's Breeches will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is not necessary for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Cat's Breeches prefers moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Rich moist soils, most often in the shade, from valleys to around 2,700 metres[212].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Grows within a woodland garden
• Works within dappled Shade
• Grows in a shady edge

Cultivation Details

Requires a moist humus-rich soil in semi-shade[200]. Grows well in an open woodland garden[200]. The leaves are shaped in such a way that they collect rainwater in a cavity[212]. Slugs are particularly fond of this plant and will soon destroy it if given a chance[K].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 3/5
Tender young shoots - cooked as a potherb[207, 212]. Root - cooked[207]. Large and fleshy[212].

• Leaves -
• Root - includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 0/5
None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. The seed usually germinates in early spring. Sow stored seed as early in the year as possible. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in spring or autumn[200]. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

None known

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

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