Saxifragaceae (Tolmiea)

Protocol Information for:

Label_title:
Tolmiea (menziesii)

Family Names:

Family Scientific Name:
Saxifragaceae

Family Common Name:
Saxifrage family

Scientific Names:

Genus:
Tolmiea

Species:
menziesii

Scientific Classification:

Scientific SubSpecies:

Species Authority:

Scientific SubAuthority:
(Pursh) Torr. & Gray

Authors:

Bridget McNassar

Common Synonym:

Genus:
Tiarella

Species:
menziesii

Synonym Classification:

Synonym SubSpecies:

Species Authority:
Pursh

Synonym SubAuthority:

Other Information:

Common Name:
Piggy-back plant, youth-on-age

Species Code:
TOME

Ecotype:
From lowland hills along Snoqualmie River Valley, near Carnation and Duvall, WA, second growth forest understory between 50 and 900 ft elevation

General Distribution:
Tolmiea menziesii occurs from Alaska south, from the coast to the west side of the Cascades through Washington and Oregon to California. It commonly occurs in moist woods, especially near streams.

Known Invasiveness:

Propagation Goal:
Plants

Propagation Method:
Seed

Product Type:
Container (plug)

Stock Type:
Deepot 19 (19 cubic inch/315 mL)

Grow Time:
7-11 months

Target Specifications:
Root system: firm plug in container

Propagation Collection:
Fruit is a conical capsule (about 9-14 mm long) containing multiple small (about 0.5 mm) black seeds. Seeds are collected in June and July, when capsule begins to dry and seeds are black in color and can be poured out when capsule is turned upside down. Entire inflorescence is clipped and collected in bags or buckets.

Propagation Processing/Propagule Characteristics:
Harvested inflorescences are stored upside down in an open cylindrical plastic container in a dry area with good circulation, out of direct sun and wind, for 1-2 months. This allows further drying of seeds and provides an easy way to collect seeds with minimal chaff as they fall down into container over time. Seeds are then stored dry at 35 F until sowing Seed dormancy is classified as non dormant

Pre-Planting Propagule Treatments:
none

Growing Area Preparation / Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:
Unheated greenhouse Sowing method: 0.4 g of seeds are surface sown into germination flats filled with a mix of 70% sphagnum peat and 30% fine bark Sowing either occurs in late September/early October or late March/early April. Trays are irrigated with a fine mist nozzle so seeds are not disturbed.

Establishment Phase:
Germination occurs after 1-2 months

Length of Establishment Phase:
1-2 months

Active Growth Phase:
When true leaves appear, plants are fertilized in germination flats with a liquid fertilizer (Fish and Guano, 9-6-2, Monterey) once every two weeks. Plants are moved from germination flats to Deepot 19 containers once they have 4-5 true leaves. Soil is a mix of 95% fine bark, 5% compost, and an organic granular fertilizer (Nutri-Rich, 8-2-4, Stutzman) at a rate of .85g per 19 cubic inch (315 mL) container. Containers are watered every few days and media kept fairly moist.

Length of Active Growth Phase:
4-5 months

Hardening Phase:
Plants begin to go dormant as temperatures cool in October.

Length of Hardening Phase:
1 month

Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:
Dead leaves are clipped back before winter. Plants are kept in containers in unheated greenhouse until needed by customers throughout fall and winter. Plants should be watered once a month to prevent drying out. Plugs can be pulled from containers and wrapped in bundles of five as customers are ready for delivery from October-April.

Length of Storage:
1-6 months

Guidelines for Outplanting / Performance on Typical Sites:

Other Comments:
Plants can also be vegetatively propagated by clipping leaves where plantlets have developed at base of leaf blades toward the end of summer, and pressing them down into soil at the base to encourage root growth.

References:
Flora of the Pacific Northwest, Hitchcock and Cronquist, University of Washington Press, Third Edition, 1976. Seeds: Ecology, Biogeography, and Evolution of Dormancy and Germination, Baskin and Baskin, Academic Press, Second Edition, 2014. WTU Herbarium Image Collection - Burke Museum, Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture. Web. 20 March 2018 <://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection.php?Genus+Tolmiea&Species+menziesii>

Citation:
McNassar, Bridget. 2018. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Tolmiea menziesii Plants Deepot 19 (19 cubic inch/315 mL) ; Oxbow Farm & Conservation Center Carnation, Washington. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2025/06/06). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.

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