Podophyllum ‘Spotty Dotty’

Spotty Dotty Berberidaceae

One of the great foliage hybrids of the modern woodland garden, ‘Spotty Dotty’ produces enormous, umbrella-like leaves which emerge chartreuse with dramatic chocolate-brown spotting, gradually becoming greener as the season progresses while retaining a scattering of lighter markings. Beneath the foliage hang clusters of large, dark garnet-red flowers in late spring, giving the plant a wonderfully exotic character. It is vigorous, rhizomatous and unusually good at retaining its foliage through summer.

‘Spotty Dotty’ was raised by Janet Egger at Terra Nova Nurseries, Oregon, in 2005. The cross used Podophyllum hybrid 374 as the seed parent and P. delavayi-64 as the pollen parent. The seed parent was itself selected from a hybrid swarm originating at a Japanese nursery, probably involving P. difforme, P. delavayi and P. versipelle. Thus, although often labelled P. versipelle in the trade, ‘Spotty Dotty’ is properly regarded as a complex Asian Podophyllum hybrid rather than a form of that species. 

Grow in deep or dappled shade in a cool, moist, humus-rich soil. Avoid drought stress and protect emerging shoots from late frosts. It is remarkably vigorous once established and can slowly form substantial colonies. Propagation is normally by division or tissue culture; the original patent records that the cultivar was propagated asexually to maintain its distinctive characteristics. 

Breeder: Janet Egger, Terra Nova Nurseries, Oregon
Introduced: 2005
Height: 40–50cm
Spread: 30–60cm
Flowering: May–June
Position: Deep or dappled shade
Soil: Moist, humus-rich and well drained
Hardiness: H4–H5