With foliage that looks like Maple leaves, Mukdenia especially Mukdenia rossii is one of the most sought after species. This is a charming, slow-spreading herbaceous perennial from northeast Asia (China / Korea), celebrated for its striking foliage, seasonal interest and ease of care
If you can grow Heauchera then you can grow Mukdenia rossii which is sometimes called ‘crimson fans’ a reference to the foliage. With its bold, lobed leaves and seasonal colour transitions, Mukdenia is often considered a woodland garden gem — especially suitable for shaded or partly shaded corners, under trees or shrubs, or even in containers
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.
Growing Conditions & Care — What Mukdenia Likes
To get the best from Mukdenia, consider the natural growing conditions and this a guide::
- Light: Thrives in partial shade to dappled shade — ideal under deciduous trees, beside shrubs, or in shaded garden beds. Direct harsh sun generally not ideal.
- Soil: Prefers moist, humus-rich soil that drains well. Enriching the soil with compost or organic matter such as mushroom compost or leaf mold before planting helps.
- Moisture: Keep soil consistently moist — especially important in summer or hot weather. Mukdenia does not like prolonged drought.
- Spacing & Habit: This plant isn’t a tiny groundcover — it can spread over 1 metre and reach around 0.5 metre in height over time, though it’s slow-spreading and maintains a neat, mounded shape.
- Maintenance: Low maintenance overall. No special pruning needed. If desired, older clumps can be divided occasionally to rejuvenate the plant or expand to new spots
- Pests / Considerations: Plants like this can sometimes attract slugs or snails when young — it’s worthwhile to keep an eye on new growth
Both M. rossii and M. acanthifolia are both worth looking for.
Garden Uses — Where Mukdenia Shines
Mukdenia is a versatile plant that works beautifully in a variety of garden settings:
- Shade or woodland gardens: Its love for dappled shade and moist soil makes it ideal under trees, beside shrubs, or among ferns and other woodland plants.
- Border or edge planting: The mounding habit, colourful foliage, and spring flowers make Mukdenia a great choice for shaded border edges or as a soft underplanting along paths and garden beds.
- Groundcover / under-shrub layer: Over time, Mukdenia can spread to form a lush carpet of foliage — useful as a groundcover that adds texture and seasonal colour.
- Containers & pots: Its compact size and seasonal interest also lend well to container gardening, especially in shaded patios or balconies.
- Accent plant for contrast: The foliage’s colour transition — from green to bronze to red — offers contrast when planted alongside evergreen or darker-leaf shrubs, grasses, or shade-loving perennials.
Where To Buy
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