Jeffersonia: Planting and Cultivation

Description and botany

Jeffersonia is a perennial plant from the Berberidaceae family, like Epimedium or Barrenwort. This plant originates from temperate zones of America, from the eastern United States (Minnesota to southern Tennessee), as well as from Korea to China and eastern Russia. It grows wild in deciduous forests and thickets, often in ravines or on shaded, moist rocky slopes with calcareous soils, up to 1,100 m altitude. The Jeffersonia genus includes only two species: Jeffersonia diphylla, native to the fresh undergrowth of North America, and Jeffersonia dubia, the small Asian variety. The plant is named after Thomas Jefferson, the first President of the United States.

Jeffersonia diphylla, botanical plate

From a short creeping rootstock, Jeffersonia gradually forms small, long-lasting clumps, reaching 10 to 15 cm in height and at least 25 cm in width. This creeping perennial slowly creates a carpet of leaves that will colonise cool spots, woodland areas, the base of trees and bushes, or shaded borders. It develops slowly as ground cover, never becoming invasive.

Flowering is early, starting at the beginning of spring in April. Solitary flowers emerge from the soil before the leaves. The flowering takes the form of star-shaped cup inflorescences, 2 to 2.5 cm in diameter, composed of 6 to 8 broad petals. These delicate bell-shaped flowers are lavender-coloured or pure white, surrounding a yellow centre. Their simplicity resembles that of botanical tulips.

Jeffersonia diphylla and Jeffersonia dubia

In spring, the stems develop a delicate deciduous foliage, highly ornamental and easily recognisable. The leaves unfold into rounded, fleshy laminas deeply notched at their base into two twin leaflets, semi-ovate in shape, arranged symmetrically around the petiole and with dentate edges. Borne on long upright petioles, they measure 6-8 cm in diameter, each resembling a butterfly wing. Young shoots emerge in bronze tones before maturing into a beautiful apple-green to bluish-green edged with reddish-brown. This lobed foliage, veined and slightly textured, remains lush after flowering. The flowers then transform into curious leathery fruits, pear-shaped capsules containing red seeds.

The highly distinctive foliage of Jeffersonia diphylla

Main species

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Planting

Where to Plant It?

Hardy to at least -15°C, Jeffersonia can be grown in most regions, except perhaps in Mediterranean climates, which are too dry in summer. Let’s not forget that this is a woodland plant that thrives in humus-rich soils, from acidic to calcareous, which remain moist. It tolerates naturally calcareous soils well. Avoid planting in direct sunlight. Jeffersonia prefers a partially shaded position, in non-scorching sun and not too dense shade. Excessive shade can hinder its flowering. Once well established under the canopy of deciduous trees or bushes that will protect it from summer heat, it will form beautiful leafy carpets with great freshness. It makes an excellent ground cover, ideal for dressing a shaded and cool rockery, a deciduous woodland area, or a shrubby border. You can also plant it in a difficult-to-cultivate shaded area.

Jeffersonia dubia, the Asian species

When to Plant Jeffersonia?

Jeffersonia is best planted in spring, between March and May after the last frosts, or in autumn from September to November.

How to Plant Jeffersonia?

Allow 5 to 6 young plants per m² to create a perennial and well-covered leafy carpet, while maintaining a distance of 30 cm between each plant. The soil should be well-drained. If it is clayey, add gravel or clay pebbles to improve drainage.

• Loosen the soil thoroughly
• Dig a hole 2 to 3 times the size of the root ball
• In heavy soil, spread drainage material at the bottom of the hole
• Plant in the centre of the hole
• Fill the hole with a mix of garden soil, sand, and good-quality compost
• Gently firm the soil with your foot
• Mulch around the base with mulch to retain moisture
• Water generously and then regularly to encourage establishment

Jeffersonia Care

The Jeffersonia requires almost no maintenance. Its lush foliage smothers weeds, sparing you the chore of weeding. This perennial plant spreads slowly over the soil, provided it remains well-drained and sufficiently moist in summer. It does not tolerate overly dry soils well. Avoid planting it in soils that dry out easily. Even in summer, during its dormant period, it’s best to water it to prevent the foliage from drying out completely. Water regularly once or twice a week during the first summer after planting, then monitor water needs during prolonged heatwaves and droughts. In spring, apply a good layer of organic mulch (straw, dead leaves, etc.) to limit evaporation in summer and protect its rhizomatous roots from harsh winter frosts.

At the end of winter, when flower buds appear, remove the old foliage by cutting the clump back to ground level. Do this before early spring to avoid accidentally cutting the emerging young flower stems.

Each spring, you can add some compost around the base with light raking to encourage growth, enrich the soil, and improve moisture retention.

It is rarely affected by diseases. However, in spring, protect its young shoots from snails and slugs. If needed, use fern liquid manure to deter them.

⇒ Learn the right techniques for planting a perennial correctly in our video!

Jeffersonia dubia

Propagation

To propagate Jeffersonia, we recommend dividing clumps, a simple technique to carry out in summer or early autumn. After 3-4 years, the plant may show signs of fatigue; divide the largest stumps to rejuvenate the base and maintain a floriferous clump.

• Using a spade, dig around the clump
• Lift the root ball with a garden fork
• Divide the clump, taking rootstocks from the outer edges with a rosette of leaves
• Replant the rootstock sections immediately in well-prepared soil
• Water generously

Association

With their elegant, ground-covering foliage and very early spring flowers, Jeffersonias (dubia and diphylla) are perfect for greening neglected spaces or shady corners in a natural or wild garden. Thriving in humus-rich, moist soils, they do well in woodland settings where they pair beautifully with Epimediums, Anemone nemorosa, Hepaticas, Hellebores, and Ferns such as Dryopteris wallichiana, or with bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta).

In a woodland garden, they complement spring-flowering perennials such as hardy geraniums, Cyclamen coum, or the delicate Bleeding Hearts, as well as trees and bushes, particularly those with spring blooms like Viburnums and ornamental Prunus, beneath which they form leafy carpets. It’s wise to surround them with early and late spring bulbs to extend the enchanting effect of their flowering—Grape Hyacinths, daffodils, botanical tulips…

Their ability to cover shaded areas with foliage for many months makes them indispensable in partially shaded rockeries where the soil remains moist. You can surround them with miniature Hostas and Carex.

Viburnum opulus, Jeffersonia dubia, Dicentra spectabilis, and grape hyacinths