Youth-on-Age

Tolmiea menziesii

Youth-on-Age is a special plant that grows in shady places. Its leaves are soft and fuzzy, and it can make baby plants right from its leaves!

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The Youth-on-Age has bright green, heart-shaped, slightly hairy leaves, often with smaller plantlets emerging directly from the base of the leaf blade. Its small, greenish-brown flowers grow on slender stalks above the foliage, sometimes hidden by the leaves.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderSaxifragalesFamilySaxifragaceaeGenusTolmiea

Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk)CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsView original ↗

Youth-on-Age

Interesting facts

Despite its delicate look, this plant is quite tough and easy for beginners to grow!

Its scientific name honors two amazing botanists, William Tolmie and Archibald Menzies!

The Youth-on-Age stays green all year long, even when it gets chilly!

Tiny new 'baby' plants grow right on top of the older leaves!

Special abilities

Youth-on-Age can grow entirely new plants directly from its leaves, which then drop off to root themselves and create clones.

Youth-on-Age has broad leaves that help it capture even tiny bits of sunlight in dark forest floors, making it a master of shady spots.

Youth-on-Age can rapidly form dense mats of ground cover using its unique leaf-based propagation, helping it colonize new areas quickly.

Measurements & details

Height: 30-60 cm
Spread: 30-60 cm
Flower Size: 0.5-1 cm
Bloom Season: Late spring to early summer
Edible: No
Toxicity: None
Lifecycle: Perennial
Pollination Method: Insect

Ecological connections

Pollinates

Black-tailed Bumblebee

Bombus melanopygus

Its tiny flowers provide nectar for these buzzing insects.

Eaten by

Banana Slug

Ariolimax columbianus

Slugs enjoy munching on its soft, green leaves.

Eaten by

Mule Deer

Odocoileus hemionus

Deer might nibble on its foliage during scarce times.

Shelter

Red Wood Ant

Formica rufa

Its dense growth can provide cover for small insects.

Traits

Furry

Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur.

Deciduous

Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.

Ornamental

Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.

Shade Tolerant

Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.

Medicinal

Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.

Rapid Growing

Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.

Forest

Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.

Regenerative

Regenerative organisms possess the ability to regrow lost or damaged body parts, tissues, or organs.

Also known as

Piggyback Plant

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 Youth-on-Age?

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 Youth-on-Age?

30-60 cm

How wide does Youth-on-Age spread?

30-60 cm

How big are the flowers on Youth-on-Age?

0.5-1 cm

When does Youth-on-Age bloom?

Late spring to early summer

Is Youth-on-Age edible?

Is Youth-on-Age toxic?

None

What is Youth-on-Age's lifecycle?