Trautvetteria caroliniensis

Trautvetteria carolinensis is a beautiful shade or partial shade perennial that deserves to be discovered and planted more often in the dimly lit areas of the garden, which are often difficult to design. It is interesting for its white and fragrant summer flowering, made up of aerial inflorescences that resemble those of meadow-rues. But also for its finely cut foliage that somewhat resembles that of larkspurs. Native to the moist forests of North America, it appreciates humus-rich soils and is perfectly hardy in our climates. It will be superb in a shaded naturalistic border, at the edge of a pond, as well as in wet areas of the garden.

Trautvetteria carolinensis belongs to the family Ranunculaceae, just like our famous buttercups. It is native to the northeastern United States, where it is mainly found in wet forests and ravines, as well as along riverbanks, usually sheltered from the sun.

It is a perennial herbaceous plant with rhizomes that allow it to spread laterally over the years where it is happy. Its above-ground vegetation disappears in winter and re-emerges in spring. When mature, Trautvetteria carolinensis forms a beautiful clump of leafy stems that will reach an average height of 90 cm (35in) in flower and almost as much in width.

The leaves of this plant are palmate and deeply divided into 5 to 11 strongly toothed lobes. The leaves at the base of the stems have petioles and measure about 15 cm (6in) in width at the time of flowering, 20 cm (8in) during fruiting. The leaves higher up on the stems, on the other hand, are directly attached to the stem, smaller and less deeply divided. Their colour is a fairly dark green on the upper side, paler underneath. The flowering takes place from June to August, at the terminal part of the stems. It consists of clusters of small white flowers without petals, about 2 cm (1in) wide. Each flower has 3 to 5 sepals that resemble petals and fall early, as soon as the flower opens, revealing a bouquet of 1 cm (0.5 in) long stamens with white filaments and yellow anthers, which are very bright. This pleasantly fragrant flower attracts pollinating insects. It gives way to green fruits, each containing only one seed.

Trautvetteria carolinensis is a perennial with a graceful appearance, which allows for the creation of a lush, airy and wild background in the shady areas of the garden. It is frost-resistant, its only requirement being to be planted in consistently moist to wet soil and away from the scorching sun. It finds its place alongside tall, slender plants, such as tall meadow-rues, comfreys, ferns, and other Goat's Beards. It is also a good perennial for moist banks, even in partial shade, next to Rodgersias pinnata Chocolate Wings or Actaea simplex Brunette, with their purple foliage. Shade-loving perennial geraniums such as Geranium nodosum can also accompany it.