# great waterleaf (*Hydrophyllum appendiculatum*) Great waterleaf is a lovely plant with big, soft leaves that can grow in shady places. It blooms with pretty flowers that attract butterflies and bees, making it a special part of nature. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 4 - **Habitat:** Forests ![great waterleaf](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Hydrophyllum_appendiculatum.jpg&width=800) Photo: Mason Brock (Masebrock), Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hydrophyllum_appendiculatum.jpg) ## Appearance The great waterleaf has soft, hairy stems and deeply lobed, palm-shaped leaves that resemble large hands, often with distinct silvery or white markings when young. Its clusters of small, bell-shaped, lavender-to-purple flowers bloom atop the plant. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Boraginales - **Family:** Hydrophyllaceae - **Genus:** Hydrophyllum ## Interesting facts - Early pollinators like queen bumblebees flock to its purple flowers, eagerly collecting nectar after winter. - Its name, Hydrophyllum, literally means 'water leaf' because its leaves appear to hold water droplets! - Look closely! Tiny hairs on its leaves can trap dewdrops, making them sparkle like they're covered in diamonds! - Native Americans once used the young, tender leaves of great waterleaf as a delicious wild spring vegetable! ## Special abilities - **Water-Droplet Wonder:** Great waterleaf has unique leaf hairs that trap water droplets, making them shimmer and helping the plant stay hydrated. - **Understory Racer:** Great waterleaf can grow very quickly in spring to capture sunlight before the forest canopy fully shades the ground. - **Rhizome Spreader:** Great waterleaf has underground stems called rhizomes that help it spread and create new plants without needing seeds. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-60 cm - **Spread:** 30-45 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** honeybee (*Apis mellifera*) — Gathers nectar and pollen from its flowers. - **Pollinates:** common eastern bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — One of the earliest bees to visit its blooms. - **Eaten by:** [white-tailed deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Deer browse on its tender spring foliage. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they are safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify great waterleaf? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is great waterleaf? 30-60 cm ### How wide does great waterleaf spread? 30-45 cm ### How big are the flowers on great waterleaf? 1-2 cm ### When does great waterleaf bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is great waterleaf edible? Yes ### Is great waterleaf toxic? None ### What is great waterleaf's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/blackhand-gorge-state-nature-preserve) — Ohio, US · Nature Reserve - [Kickapoo State Recreation Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kickapoo-state-recreation-area) — Illinois, US · State Park - [Lake Hudson State Recreation Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lake-hudson-state-recreation-area) — Michigan, US · Nature Reserve - [Lock and Dam No. 24](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lock-and-dam-no-24) — Illinois, US · Historic Site - [Cherokee Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cherokee-park) — Kentucky, US · Park - [Point Pelee National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/point-pelee-national-park) — Ontario, CA · National Park [View all places to see great waterleaf](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/great-waterleaf) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Great Waterleaf: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-waterleaf)