Bowman’s root is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the Rosaceae or rose family. It is native to the eastern United States and Canada and spans from southern Ontario to Georgia. Bowman’s root can also be found west to Kentucky, Arkansas, and Louisiana. Its native habitat is in the woody mountainous regions where it enjoys partial sun, dry to moist conditions, and rocky soil. propagate by division and seed. This plant may benefit from support. Bowman's roott blooms with five-petaled white flowers on wiry red stems from late spring to early summer. The serrated green leaves turn red in fall. The airy look of the flowers is effective in mass plantings or borders of native or rock gardens. It can also be used in naturalized areas and slopes. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant 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.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Spreading
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Oblong
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf size
3-6 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Olive-green leaves are divided into three-pointed, slightly toothed leaflets (1.5-4"). They are almost stalkless. Pair of small stipules at the base of each leaf. Good fall color.
Fall color
Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Pink; White
Flower value
Good Cut; Showy
Flower form
Corymb; Head
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Five narrow, long, white or pinkish-white petals that are unequal in length and somewhat twisted. They are held in loose corymbs on wiry, branching red stems. After the petals drop, attractive red calyces remain. Flowers bloom from April to June.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit detail
Fruit displays from August to October.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Thin reddish-brown stems on slender, somewhat twisted branches. Typically require support.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Eastern U.S.A., Canada
Distribution
The eastern United States and Canada
Wildlife value
This plant attracts butterflies and pollinators.
Play value
Buffer; Easy to Grow
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall; Summer
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Meadow; Naturalized Area; Slope/Bank
Landscape theme
Native Garden; Rock Garden
Design feature
Accent; Border; Foundation Planting; Hedge; Mass Planting; Specimen
Garden tags
#native wildflower #flowers late spring #flowers early summer #showy flowers #border planting #low maintenance #white flowers #NC native #fall interest #native garden #mass planting #heat tolerant #winter interest #fall color red #food source hard mast fruit #food source nectar #food source pollen #food source summer #food source fall #Audubon #butterfly friendly #pollinator plant #herb garden #woodland #thicket #bat friendly #moth friendly