Synthyris missurica var. stellata

Mountain Kittentails Plantaginaceae

Synthyris missurica subsp. stellata — traditionally known as Synthyris missurica var. stellata or simply ‘Stellata’ — is a delightful little North American woodland perennial, forming neat clumps of rounded to kidney-shaped, dark green leaves from which rise short, stout spikes of rich blue-violet, pendent bell-shaped flowers in spring. It is an excellent plant for the woodland floor, particularly alongside snowdrops, Corydalis and other early perennials. The flowers are held above the foliage in dense, rather chunky racemes, giving the plant a surprisingly substantial presence for something scarcely 15–20 cm tall. 

This is the Columbia River Gorge form of S. missurica, and is distinguished from the more widespread species by its more sharply toothed leaf margins. Its natural distribution is remarkably restricted, occurring around the Columbia River Gorge in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. It is therefore an especially interesting plant for the specialist woodland collection rather than simply another small blue-flowered perennial. 

There is a useful nomenclatural story here. The plant was originally described by Francis Whittier Pennell as Synthyris stellata in 1933. It was subsequently treated as a variety and then as a subspecies of S. missurica. The RHS now gives Veronica missurica subsp. stellata as the correct name, with Synthyris missurica ‘Stellata’, Synthyris missurica subsp. stellata and Synthyris stellata among the synonyms. The change reflects the transfer of Synthyris into Veronica in modern treatments rather than any change in the plant itself. 

The epithet stellata, meaning starred, presumably alludes to the plant’s floral or morphological character, although in cultivation it is the strongly toothed foliage and handsome violet flower spikes that make this particular form recognisable.

A choice plant for a cool woodland garden or shaded rockery, it prefers humus-rich soil that remains moist but well drained. It is surprisingly tolerant once established, but looks best where it is protected from hot, drying conditions. The flowers appear in spring and early summer, making it particularly valuable at a time when relatively few small woodland perennials are in bloom. 

Cultivation: Partial or deep shade in fertile, humus-rich soil. Keep reasonably moist during the growing season but avoid stagnant winter wet. It needs little attention once established and can be propagated by seed or division in early spring.

Height: 15–25 cm
Spread: 20–30 cm
Flowering period: April–June
Position: Partial shade to shade
Soil: Humus-rich, fertile, moist but well drained
Hardiness: H5–H6
Family: Plantaginaceae
Former names: Synthyris missurica var. stellata, Synthyris stellata
Current name: Veronica missurica subsp. stellata
Common names: Columbia synthyris; Columbia kittentails; western mountain kittentails.