Fringecups (Tellima grandiflora)
Though fringecup (Tellima grandiflora) may not catch your attention from a distance, it’s worth a closer look!
Fringecup is found mostly west of the Cascade crest in damp, shady areas (think moist forests, forest margins, or stream banks) from sea level to middle elevations. This Saxifragaceae family member has a spike of unique, fantastically frilly flowers that range in color from greenish-white to pink, often darkening as the bloom ages.
This plant is extremely common, and rarely solitary: it spreads quickly via rhizomes to establish a thick groundcover, competitive even with invasive shade-lovers. It blooms in late spring between April and July depending on local conditions and elevation.
Bonus: I spotted two western garter snakes hanging out while photographing these flowers at the Guemes Channel Trail on Fidalgo Island. What cuties!
References
David Giblin and Kevin Armitano, Tellima grandiflora (Seattle: Burke Museum Herbarium, 2022).
Gerald Stanley and Sarah Verlinde-Azofeifa, Tellima grandiflora (Washington Native Plant Society, 2022).
Jim Pojar and Andy MacKinnon, Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast (Auburn: Lone Pine Publishing, 2014), 167.
Mark Turner and Phyllis Gustafson, Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest (Portland: Timber Press, 2006), 144.
