1 named cultivar

‘Cool Gold’Piggyback Plant 'Cool Gold'

perennialN. America Native

Piggyback Plant

The Story

Plant Bio

Tolmiea menziesii, piggyback plant, is a low clumping perennial native to the moist coastal forests of western North America, about a foot high. Hairy maple-shaped leaves with five to seven lobes rise on hairy green stems, and slender spikes of small tubular brownish-purple flowers appear in late spring.

Its common name is literal: a new plantlet forms at the base of each mature leaf blade, riding piggyback until the leaf bends to the ground and it roots. Peg a leaf onto compost and you have a free plant, which makes it one of the easiest of all to propagate. It is a genuine North American native, though most people meet it as a houseplant.

Uses & Benefits:

Fresh green maple-shaped foliage with the curiosity of plantlets riding on the leaves.

Propagates itself with almost no intervention, and tolerates deep shade indoors and out.

A western North American native; bees and butterflies visit the small flowers.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Perennial

Height

12 inches

Width

15 inches

Light

Partial Sun, Shade

Zones

6, 7, 8, 9

Water

Moderate to high

Humidity

Moderate to high

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Western coastal North America

Toxicity

Listed as poisonous

Planting

How to Grow

Grow it in dappled or partial shade, never direct sun.
Keep the soil consistently moist.
Indoors, give it a cool bright spot out of hot sun.
Peg leaves onto compost to root new plantlets.
Remove tired outer leaves at the base.
Keep it away from pets that chew foliage.

Pro Tip

Pin a mature leaf flat onto compost and the plantlet riding on it roots within weeks — no cutting, hormone or propagator needed.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Keep it shaded and moist 💧
Peg leaves down to make new plants 🌱
Remove tired outer leaves ✂️
Keep it out of reach of pets 🐈

Don't

Let it dry out ❌
Put it in direct sun ❌
Let animals chew the leaves ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Divide
Propagate

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Moist woodland groundcover in the Pacific NorthwestHanging basket indoors or in shadeShaded container planting

Companion Plants

Western Sword Fern Wild Ginger Foamflower HostaBleeding Heart

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Piggyback Plant questions

What zones can Piggyback Plant grow in?

Piggyback Plant is hardy in USDA Zones 6–9. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Piggyback Plant deer resistant?

Yes — Piggyback Plant is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Piggyback Plant bloom?

Piggyback Plant typically blooms in late spring through late spring. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Piggyback Plant need full sun?

Piggyback Plant does best in part shade.