Gillenia trifoliata
"Bowman's root"
Orders placed before 1 March 2025
You can expect your order in February/March 2025
Orders placed 1 March - 15 April 2025
You can expect your order in March/April 2025
Orders placed 16 April - 15 May 2025
You can expect your order within 10 business days
UK orders over £50
Free shipping
UK orders under £50
£4.99
Northern Ireland orders under £50
£5.99
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Description
Prepare for a long season of colour and floral profusion with the award-winning perennial that is Gillenia trifoliata. Not only is it generous in terms of colour which also changes over the season, but it’s hardy, perennial, resilient, tolerant to most soil types and low maintenance. No wonder it has received and RHS Award of Garden Merit. With a naturally bushy habit, the bronze-tinged tri-lobed leaves emerge in spring and remain through summer. In autumn, they change colour, displaying gold and warming orange tones before they drop for winter. A profusion of star-like white flowers emerge in late spring, and they glimmer-on for most of summer. These blooms are held above the foliage by delicate reddish stems, which adds yet another colour to Gillenia trifoliata's fantastic perennial’s palette.
Sometimes known as Bowman's root, Gillenia trifoliata is one of those plants which, once established, will reward you with months of interest without you having to spare it much thought, time or care. A swift chop back in autumn is all that will be required each year, then it will return again, fresh and fabulous, the following spring. It copes well with most soils including clay or poor, sandy soils, but we recommend starting the bare root in a temporary pot with compost just to give it a good start first. Grow it on for a few months until it has developed a strong root system before transplanting it out into these more challenging soil types. Choose a position in partial shade for Gillenia trifoliata and enjoy the show!
Bowman's root sounds like it's named after a sharp-shooting hero, but it's actually a nod to its roots' medicinal use.
Key features
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Comes back every year
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Loved by pollinators
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Great for shade
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In peat-free compost
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Low maintenance
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RHS Award (AGM)
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Fully hardy
Specs & details
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Botanical name
Gillenia trifoliata
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Flower colour
White
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Plant size
1
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Established height
70cm-1m
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Established spread
30-50cm
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Plant spacing
6 plants per m2
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Leaf colour
Green
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Habit
Upright
Clump-forming -
Life cycle
Perennial
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Hardiness
Fully hardy
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Years to establish
2-3 years
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Sunlight
Partial shade
Dappled shade -
Position
Sheltered
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Suitable for
Large containers
Borders
Cottage gardens
Low maintenance gardens -
Soil acidity
Any
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Soil moisture
Damp
Free draining -
Soil type
Loam
Clay
Loam-based compost -
Growing skill
Easy to grow
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Scented
No
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Pollinator-friendly
Yes
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Mouse resistant
No
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Rabbit resistant
Yes
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Deer resistant
Yes
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Toxicity
No report
Plant calendar
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- Planting
- Flowering
Useful information
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Soak your Gillenia trifoliata roots in water for 3-6 hours prior to planting.
Plant your "Bowman's root" bare roots into temporary pots with a multipurpose compost in spring and grow-on in a sheltered spot outdoors.
Choose a pot which comfortably fits the bare roots. Some have a noticeable crown which should be just below the soil surface with any top growth exposed.
Plant out into borders or permanent containers in late spring or early summer once in full growth. Choose a position in sun or shade depending on the variety.
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Orders placed before 1 March 2025
You can expect your order in Feb/March 2025Orders placed 1 March - 15 April 2025
You can expect your order in April 2025Orders placed 16 April - 15 May 2025
You can expect your order within 10 business days
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