Plant Care Bowman's Root

Bowman's Root

About Bowman's Root

Bowman’s root is a perennial flowering plant in the Rosaceae or rose family. It is native to the eastern United States and Canada and spans from southern Ontario to Georgia. It can also be found west to Kentucky, Arkansas, and Louisiana. It blooms with five-petaled white flowers on wiry red stems from late spring to early summer.

Taxonomy

Gillenia trifoliata
Gillenia
Rosaceae
Rosales

Also known as

Bowman's root and Indian physic

How to care for Bowman's Root

💦 Water

How often to water your Bowman's Root

Water needs for Bowman's Root
0.5 cups
every 9

Bowman's Root needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for Bowman's Root in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Bowman's Root: 1ft from a window
1ft or less from
a window

Bowman's Root love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Bowman's Root does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Bowman's Root in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Bowman's Root

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Bowman's Root: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Bowman's Root after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

💡 FAQs
⭐ Difficulty Level

Bowman's Root is generally considered an easy-to-care-for plant and makes a great choice for beginners!


💦 Water Needs

Bowman's Root prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.


☀️ Sunlight Needs

Bowman's Root requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Greg does not have confirmed data on this plant’s toxicity. If you, a family member, or a pet consumes plant material of unknown toxicity, it’s always best to consult a medical professional.

If you or someone else ingested this plant, call Poison Control at US (800) 222-1222. If a pet consumed this plant, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA at US (888) 426-4435.


🪴 Soil

Bowman's Root does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!


💩 Fertilizer

Bowman's Root should be repotted after it doubles in size or once a year, whichever comes first. Fresh potting soil has all the nutrients your plant needs, so as long as it’s refreshed yearly, you shouldn’t need to use fertilizer. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!


⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Bowman's Root is a clumping plant, meaning new growth will emerge from the soil around the parent plant.


🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Bowman's Root can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 4a-8b. Find your local hardiness zone here.


🌱 Propagation

Bowman's Root can be propagated by division into new individual plants.

  • Check to see if there is more than one plant. In some cases they may still be beneath the soil surface. If you feel confident, you may remove the soil to check for baby plantlets below!
  • If there are multiple plants growing, unpot the plant and gently tug the plants apart, being careful not to disturb too many of the roots. They may be connected by large root segments which you may need to break to free the plantlet.
  • Pot up the new plant in well-draining soil
  • Repot the parent plant back into its original pot

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.


Care Summary for Bowman's Root

Bowman's Root


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 9 days

Placement

< 1ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

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