How to Grow and Care for Horkelias

Pinewoods horkelia (*Horkelia fusca*) is a flowering plant that you'll see growing in meadows and upland forests in its native Western USA. This plant isn't a popular garden choice because it's small but pink-white flowers are not really enough to give this plant much ornamental appeal. However, the plant does attract butterflies including the two-banded checkered-skipper.

Threetooth horkelia is characterized by its rosettes of three-pronged leaves, which interplay with its dry, open habitats to form dense, low clumps. The small white flowers, arranged in flat-topped clusters, embody the plant's delicate aesthetic. Adapting to shallow soils, threetooth horkelia's root system anchors firmly, enabling resilience in its arid environment.

Border horkelia is a perennial herb displaying clumps of basal leaves, with each leaf intricately divided into narrow segments. Its distinguishing feature is the cluster of small, white flowers which bloom atop slender, leafless stalks. This plant thrives in the specific montane conditions of its native range, suggesting a delicate balance with its ecosystem.

Horkelia californica is a clumping perennial herb producing erect green stems variable in height from 10 centimeters to over a meter. The green leaves are up to 40 centimeters long and are made up of hairy, rounded, toothed leaflets each up to 6 centimeters in length.

Wedgeleaf horkelia is a low-growing perennial herb with a mat-forming habit, characterized by its wedge-shaped leaves that are intricately divided into slender lobes. Its bright white flowers, which bloom from late spring to early summer, are set against the green backdrop of foliage and thrive in the sunny, open spaces of its native western North American habitats. Adapted to well-drained soils, wedgeleaf horkelia's compact size and spreading nature help it conserve moisture and resist competition.