Northwest Blooms · Perennials
Syneilesis x hybrida
Shredded Umbrella Plant

- Family
- Asteraceae
- Height
- 18-24 inches tall
- Width
- 12-18 inches wide
- Flower color
- Pale pink to white
- Foliage color
- Silvery green, finely lobed and fuzzy, resembling umbrella-like leaves
- Bloom time
- Late summer to early fall
- Light
- Partial shade to full shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Low; minimal pruning and cleaning up of spent foliage
- Growing zone
- USDA Zones 5-8
- Wildlife
- Attracts pollinators, particularly bees
About this plant
Syneilesis × hybrida is a unique perennial known for its deeply lobed, umbrella-like foliage that unfurls in early spring. The leaves emerge covered in a soft, silvery fuzz, giving them a ghostly, ethereal appearance that adds texture and interest to shade gardens. As the season progresses, the foliage matures to a rich green, creating a lush and elegant ground cover.
Originating from hybridization between species native to East Asia, Syneilesis × hybrida is valued for its unusual form and adaptability to woodland settings. In midsummer, it produces small clusters of pale pink to white flowers atop slender stems, adding a subtle, airy effect above the foliage. Though the blooms are understated, the plant's distinctive foliage makes it a favorite among collectors and garden enthusiasts looking to add a touch of the exotic to shaded areas.
Works well in
Borders · Shade Gardens · Woodland Gardens · Pollinator Gardens · Containers
Companion plants
Hellebores · Japanese forest grass · Astilbes · Heucheras · Siberian bugloss · Sweet woodruff
Design tip
Fall bloom is its strength, and it earns a place near a path or seating area used late in the year. Cooler light suits it, so tuck it on the north side of a shrub or wall where the soil stays even.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen in the perennial border at the Bellevue Botanical Garden.
