Tellima
( TEL - im - uh )
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At-A-Glance InformationCommonly called Fringe Cups, this interesting looking flowering perennial needs partial to full shade and regular water. It is native to central California up to southern Alaska, and reaches 2.5 feet tall and 1.5 feet wide. Confused with Tiarella at times, though this plant does not have the same feathery flowers. This plant has creeping roots and light green somewhat hairy leaves. Flowers with tiny, divided petals open green and mature to a deep red. They are not showy, but are wonderful when they can be admired from a close distance. They are great when planted amongst ferns in woodland gardens, or used as a groundcover in shrub borders. Tellima is a member of the plant family Saxifragaceae and includes just one species, Tellima grandiflora. grows best in zones A3, 2-9 and 14-17 (To find your zone, click here: Zone Map). Take care when planting these flowers in the landscape, as there is some evidence that they are moderately toxic if ingested.
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Caring for Tellima
Tellima, or Fringe Cups, are typically grown from seed or purchased as starts from a reputable nursery, though plants are not easy to find. Space plants about a foot apart for best coverage as a groundcover. They do best in a space that receives partial shade, but can also grow in full sun if soil is kept moist enough and it gets some shade during the warmest hours of the day. Ensure that soil is well-draining, rich in nutrients, and has a pH of between 6.0 and 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. Mature plants also appreciate consistently moist soils; as a general rule of thumb, water whenever the top inch or two of soil feels dry to the touch.
Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this should be sufficient to provide the necessary nutrients for the active growing and flowering seasons. Pruning is simple; remove any damaged, diseased, or dead foliage at any time during the growing season, and remove spent flower spikes to neaten up the appearance of plants and encourage reblooms. These plants will re-seed freely in the garden if conditions are favorable, but are not considered invasive or unmanageable.
Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this should be sufficient to provide the necessary nutrients for the active growing and flowering seasons. Pruning is simple; remove any damaged, diseased, or dead foliage at any time during the growing season, and remove spent flower spikes to neaten up the appearance of plants and encourage reblooms. These plants will re-seed freely in the garden if conditions are favorable, but are not considered invasive or unmanageable.
Propagation
Tellima, or Fringe Cups, can be propagated by division or seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the division method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant, especially if you are propagating a hybrid cultivar. To propagate your Fringe Cups, follow the instructions below:
Propagating Tellima by Seed
Propagating Tellima by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil (any kind will do, though it does need to be well-draining), compost and pots (only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in very early spring (after the plant has entered dormancy, but before it has begun its new spring growth), and needs to be done every few years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:
Propagating Tellima by Seed
- Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
- Harvest your seeds. The seed heads on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
- Get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 2-6 weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
- Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Propagating Tellima by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil (any kind will do, though it does need to be well-draining), compost and pots (only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in very early spring (after the plant has entered dormancy, but before it has begun its new spring growth), and needs to be done every few years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:
- Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the root(s). Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
- Start to tease apart the roots with your gloved fingers. Once the roots are untangled, separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each one has at least one thick root section attached.
- Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your divisions and water thoroughly.
- Apply a thick layer of mulch over the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home. Then, enjoy watching it sprout in the next growing season.
Problems and Pests
Tellima plants can be susceptible to developing issues with the following pests and diseases in the landscape:
- Slugs and Snails
- Root Rot
- Leaf Spot
- Weevils
Gallery
Tellima spreads over time, forming a great underplanting for trees and shrubs.
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These plants form clumps of foliage and upright spikes of small flowers.
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It is easy to see why these plants are commonly called 'Fringe Cups' when looking at their blossoms.
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This shady garden features Tellima alongside Snow-in-Summer, Potentilla, and ferns.
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Foliage is similar to that of Heuchera plants, and takes on bright colors when temperatures cool down in fall.
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These plants are informal garden superstars.
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Videos
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Interviews with Plants: Tellima grandiflora.
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Learn how to properly prune these woodland garden plants.
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Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 626, Tellima grandiflora
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