Piggyback plant is a native evergreen perennial herb found on the coast of western North America. It grows as a ground cover in moist forests, wetlands and along streams to 1 foot tall. The flowers appear in loose racemes in spring with small tubular purplish-brown flowers that attract bees and butterflies. The maple leaf-shaped leaves form a dense ground cover, and the mature leaves form plantlets at the base where the stem meets the leaf. These fall to the ground and root. The plant can also spread by rhizomes and seeds. Use this plant as a ground cover in a shady, moist to wet area or as a patio plant in a container or hanging basket. It needs moist, fertile soil and high humidity.
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.
Fills a similar nicheSmilax smalliiStrobilanthes alternata 'Exotica'x Heucherella
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Herbaceous Perennial; Poisonous
Life cycle
Perennial
USDA zones
6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Moist | Occasionally Wet
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Mounding; Prostrate; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Palmatifid
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Hairy leaves are similar to maple leaves in shape with 5-7 lobes and up to 4 inches wide. Plantlets form at the base where the stem meets the leaf.
Flower color
Brown/Copper; Red/Burgundy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
The small flowers occur in a loose raceme. Individual flowers are tubular with reddish-brown to chocolate petals and yellow anthers.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The capsule contains spiny fruits
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Hairy green stems
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Western coastal North America
Distribution
AK , CA , OR , WA Canada: BC
Wildlife value
Butterflies and bees are attracted to the flowers
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Hanging Baskets; Woodland
Landscape theme
Shade Garden
Garden tags
#non-toxic for cats #non-toxic for dogs #wet soils tolerant #riparian #dense growth #groundcover #humidity tolerant #evergreen #hanging baskets #woodland