Latin Name: Romanzoffia tracyi
Common Name(s): Tracy’s Mistmaiden
Family: Boraginaceae
Size: a small plant, reaching a maximum height of about 5″. Tends to be shorter in full sun. Establishes colonies by spreading tubers.
Life Cycle: Perennial
Distribution: Northern California up to the very southern tip of Vancouver Island.
Light Requirements: Full sun, might appreciate some shade inland
USDA Zone: Unknown, given the habitat of rocky ocean bluffs it probably can handle a fair amount of heat and drought in the summer but might not respond well to being frozen solid. My guess would be 7-9.
Drought Tolerance: Needs to be seasonally moist, but can go dormant during dry months thus increasing the drought tolerance.
Fire Risk: Not relevant, as the plant is tiny and usually dormant during the months of greatest fire risk.
Spring walks along the Oregon coast often reveal an ephemeral and delicate plant life that often disappears in the heat of summer, perhaps best represented by Tracy’s Mistmaiden, a delicately tiny member of the Waterleaf family that grows in the harsh coastal environment. Often found on coastal bluffs, Tracy’s mistmaiden survives salt, seasonal drought, heat, and rocky soil. This charming plant has not seen much use in gardens, however, even amongst hardcore native plant enthusiasts, and as a result data on its culture in the garden is scant. When a coastal friend gave me some seeds from their garden, however, I finally had a stab at growing the plant in my Willamette Valley garden. Pictured above is a tiny chunk, taken while weeding grass out of the patch that has established itself over the past few years.
Cultivation Notes
Tracy’s Mistmaiden is a relatively uncommon plant in the found mostly on rocky bluffs along the coast, including some populations along the Salish sea on the Washington/Canada border. The plant prefers moist but well drained soil and can deal with salt spray. It grows very well in full sun on the coast but might need a bit of shade if grown inland to prevent leaf scorch. Once established the plants will do fine with low summer irrigation, but make sure they receive regular water in the winter and spring when they actively grow. If conditions become too dry the entire plant will die down, so regular summer water is needed to keep the plant evergreen. Fertilization not needed, the plants do fine even in poor and gravelly soil. Slugs seem to appreciate this plant and might need controlling in wetter areas, particularly in the Willamette Valley.
Ecology
The small white flowers bloom from spring to summer and are mildly attractive to pollinators. Some lepidoptera larvae likely feed on the plant, the most well-known being the white-lined sphinx moth Hyles lineata.
Uses
Beyond wildlife and aesthetic value, not much is documented. Since the plants are small and not particularly common, overharvesting would be a significant concern if any uses were found. R. californica, a close relative, is listed by some sources as having edible leaves. I would caution against consuming large amounts until further analysis has been done, however, as many members of the family contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids, a family of chemicals that have many carcinogenic and hepatotoxic members. Given the small size of the plants, though, it would be hard to imagine growing and eating enough of them to cause serious damage.
Propagation
Seed or by division. Plants are known to self seed, so they can likely be directly sown in the fall for winter/spring germination. Sow just under the soil surface. If planting in the late spring, cold stratification will likely be needed for up to two months before germination will take place. Young seedlings will likely need irrigation, at least for the first year or two. The plants can also be divided, as they have a small tubers that can withstand some stress and disturbance.