Health and gardening information,

1. * Creeping Leather-root – Hoita orbicularis (ho-IT-ay or-bik-yoo-LARE-is)
Family: Fabaceae (Pea Family)
Native to: Much of western CA & Baja except the Central Valley. Locally in the San Gabriel Mtns.;
many plant communities (including Yellow Pine Forest, Foothill Woodland, Chaparral, Valley
Grassland) in moist places, wetlands, riparian areas - to 5000 ft. elevation.
Growth characteristics: Herbaceous perennial mature height: 1 ft. mature width: 3-8 ft.
Slowly spreading, winter-deciduous herbaceous perennial. Plant grows very low, usually < 1 ft tall,
and spreads over the ground in a vine-like fashion. Large leaves each made up of three round
leaflets, each up to 4” long – looks somewhat like a large shamrock leaf. Unusual!
Blooms/fruits: Blooms in late spring – May to July depending on climate. Flowers pea-like, light to
medium-purple, along a flowering stalk above the foliage. Very pretty. Fruit a pod.
Uses in the garden: Usually used as a groundcover under trees that need a little summer water.
Does well on slopes. Would make a nice addition to a rain garden or infiltration swale. Could mix
with other herbaceous groundcover species like Stachys & Achillea for a shady lawn substitute.
Would look nice cascading over a shaded wall, planter or container. Native Californians eat the
leaves for greens and make a yellow dye from roots. An herbal tea was used to treat fevers.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native herbaceous groundcovers like Vinca.
Attracts: Good habitat plant: provides cover and seeds for food; attracts butterflies.
Requirements:
Element Requirement
Sun Part-sun to shade.
Soil Most local soils.
Water Regular water.
Fertilizer Low doses fine.
Other Would like an organic mulch – leaf mulch is preferred.
Management: Easy to grow with regular water. Cut back in fall/winter.
Propagation: from seed: fresh seed; hot water treat, winter/spring by cuttings: ??
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1, 13 4/1/12
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