With foliage that looks like Maple leaves, Mukdenia are from China and Mukdenia rossii is one of the most sought after species. A great shade loving ground cover plant Mukdenia with its large fan shaped foliage that change colour during summer is underused in the Australian garden.
If you can grow Heauchera then you can grow Mukdenia rossii which is sometimes called ‘crimson fans’ a reference to the foliage. The foliage will change from a green to the red fans later in summer, excellent as an accent in the border. Flowers creamy white and held above the foliage in spring.
This is not really a small ground cover plant, as it can spread over 1m and reach over .5 m in height. However they are slow spreading plants with a nice mounding habit.
Mukdenia Care
In dappled shade, beneath a deciduous tree, this is an easy plant to grow as long as the soil remains moist through summer. You could also use the plant in a shaded area beneath camellias.
Mukdenia prefer a humus rich moisture retentive soil, try digging in some mushroom compost before planting.
In dry soils add some water retention products, or dig in some coco peat to improve moisture retention.
M. rossii and M. acanthifolia are both worth looking for.
Available from the following nurseries
Large variety of Epimediums, Woodland plants and Herbaceous perennials
Mail order or nursery. We do not send to Tasmania or WA
www.cloverhillrareplants.com
PO Box 7040 Leura NSW 2780
Rare woodland plants, Trilliums Epimediums, Arisaemas, plus much more.www.lynnsrareplants.com.au