Mukdenia
( muck - DEEN - ee - uh )
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At-A-Glance InformationMukdenia rossii 'Crimson Fans', commonly called Red-Leafed Mukdenia (and also known under the botanical name Aceriphyllum rossii), is a deciduous perennial plant species. It needs full sun to partial shade and moderate to regular water to perform well. These plants are prized for their beautiful foliage and are native to northeastern Asia. Leaves are bronze in summertime and mature to be red-streaked or flushed. These plants grow to form colonies from clumps 1 foot tall and 2 feet wide. Flowers are white, bell-shaped and appear in early springtime. A similar variety is Mukdenia rossii 'Karasuba'. Cultivar 'Starstream' has variegated foliage. These plants grow best in zones 2A-9 and 14-24. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
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Caring for Mukdenia
Mukdenia plants do well when grown in woodland or shade gardens, preferring shelter from direct sunlight. They do well in the front of beds or along the edges of shady border gardens. The more sun these plants get, the more red their foliage will become. Indirect, bright light is best. Space plants 2-3 feet apart for use as a groundcover. Ensure that soil is well-draining, fertile, and with a pH of between 6.5 and 7.5 (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 thick layer of mulch after planting to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and increase soil moisture retention. Water newly planted Chamomile regularly to help it develop a strong root system. At maturity, these plants require regular waterings, and prefer consistently moist soils.
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. These are low-maintenance plants that do not require much pruning, though older, dried or brown foliage can be removed at any time, and plants can be cut back for size in the early spring. If grown in a constricted garden space or in containers, Mukdenia will need to be divided every once in a while for health of roots. For information on how to successfully divide Mukdenia plants, see the Propagation section below.
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. These are low-maintenance plants that do not require much pruning, though older, dried or brown foliage can be removed at any time, and plants can be cut back for size in the early spring. If grown in a constricted garden space or in containers, Mukdenia will need to be divided every once in a while for health of roots. For information on how to successfully divide Mukdenia plants, see the Propagation section below.
Propagation
Mukdenia plants can be propagated either by division or from 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. To propagate your Mukdenia, follow the instructions below:
Propagating Mukdenia by Seed
Propagating Mukdenia 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 (12 inch pots will do, and these are 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 Mukdenia 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.
- In either late winter or early springtime, 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 2-3 months 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 Mukdenia 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 (12 inch pots will do, and these are 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 rhizome 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 rhizome 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
Mukdenia plants are susceptible to developing issues with the following pests and diseases in the landscape:
- Slugs and Snails
- Powdery Mildew
- Root Rot
Gallery
These plants are typically grown for their foliage, but they also produce inflorescences of small white flowers.
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Mukdenia foliage takes on reddish hues when temperatures drop.
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Mukdenia is great at filling in bare areas of the landscape, and have a mounding, spreading habit.
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Mukdenia seedling.
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Mukdenia plants produce white star-shaped flowers with red centers.
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The genus name Mukdenia commemorates Mukden, the Chinese capital city of the Manchu dynasty.
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Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 447, Mukdenia rossii 'Crimson Fans'
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