Although there are several common names for this plant, broad-leaf waterleaf is the most common name for this perennial in the Boraginaceae (borage) family. The common name maple-leaf waterleaf comes from the shape of its palmate leaves. Though it is not particularly rare in North Carolina it is considered imperiled to vulnerable farther south and in parts of New England. This woodland perennial is found in moist, high organic matter forests, bottom lands, edges of forests, thickets, and along rocky stream banks. It has scaly rhizomes from which it forms colonies. This native has two types of leaves basal and stem leaves. In late spring to mid summer, several white to lavender blossoms growing in a cluster are difficult to spot but can be see growing beneath the uppermost leaves. Hairy filaments give the cluster a fuzzy appearance. The clusters of blooms have been said to resemble an exquisite lace work. The basal leaves often remain on the plant if adequate moisture is provided and so it makes an excellent choice as a groundcover for a shady spot in a native garden. The blooms attract bees making it a welcome addition to a pollinator garden or let it form its own colonies in a naturalized area of the landscape. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Moist
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 10 in. - 2 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 4 in.
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Oblong; Ovate; Palmatifid
Leaf margin
Dentate; Lobed
Leaf size
> 6 inches long
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Two types of simple alternate leaves: basal are oblong to elliptic deeply pinnately lobed and narrow at the base with 7-11 lobes, toothe margins, 4 to 10 inches long. Sparse stiff stright hairs on upper surface while the lowers is smooth. Young leaves have a mottled pattern of silver. Stem leaves ovate to almost circular, palmate to with 5 to 9 shallow lobes that taper from a broad base, 2 to 12 inches long.
Flower color
Pink; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower shape
Bell; Cup; Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Axillary clusters found beneath stem leaves, 5 white with pink or purple tinged hairy petals fused into a cup, bell or tube shape 7-11 mm. 5 stamens much longer than the petals. Bloom appears from May-July
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Green
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Dry globular bright green capsule fruits with stiff black hairs 4 mm split when ripe
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Smooth to sparse stiff downward curving hairs.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Eastern North America
Distribution
AL, DC, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, SC, TN, VA, VT, WV, Ontario, Qubec