nature of your neighborhood logo

Youth-on-age

Known by the common names youth on age, thousand mothers, and piggyback plant it is a perennial plant commonly kept as an ornamental. It requires moisture and does not tolerate much sun or dry conditions. It bears small flowers of various colors, usually brownish-purple to white depending on the cultivar. It has hairy, toothed leaves and a capsule fruit containing spiny seed. Description from Calscape

Home  >  Plant Guide  >  

Youth-on-age

Youth-on-age fast facts

Scientific Name

Tolmiea menziesii

Family

Saxifragaceae

Garden Type

Container Appropriate, Rain Garden Appropriate, Anywhere

Wildlife

Bees, Butterflies

Native Plant Region

Western WA, PNW, North America

Light needs

Filtered, Full Shade

Water Needs

Medium

Plant Type

Flowering, Groundcover & Grasses, Perennial

Bloom Color(s)

Purple, Other

Height

0 – 2 feet

Width

0 – 1, 1 – 2 feet

Months in Bloom

May, June, July, August

Safe Beneath Power Lines?

Yes
youth-on-age

Have feedback on this plant listing?

We’d like to maintain accurate and robust plant listings. If you see information that is not correct or that could be added to improve the listing, please let us know. Or if you’d like to suggest a plant to add to our plant guide, you can use this form do so. Thank you!

Start Nurturing Your Neighborhood Today

humming bird at feeder in seattle
Biodiversity

7 Ways to Protect Wildlife in the City

The urban environment presents dangers to wildlife that they are not always adapted to overcome. Reducing urban hazards is an essential part of enhancing habitat in cities. After all, we do not want to lure wildlife into our neighborhoods only to have them fatally collide with our windows.

READ MORE
fern
Community

The Nature of Capitol Hill

Despite the urban character and the high population density, a surprising diversity of life exists in Capitol Hill. Explore a few physical aspects of our urban ecosystems and meet some of its more-than-human residents.

READ MORE