Fringecup (Tellima grandiflora) is an endemic perennial of the Pacific Northwest region and found in parts of British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon. Fringecups thrive in cool, moist habitats such as mixed woodlands, forested wetlands, and other habitats with organic soils, ample moisture, and shade provided by surrounding vegetation. A close relative of heucheras, the plant features attractive leaves that form an evergreen basal rosette, giving rise to tall, slender flowering stalks adorned with the namesake flowers, which are cup-shaped and intricately fringed. The flowers can range in color from pale green to cream, with some plants having flowers that turn bright pink late in the season. 
 
Fringecup blooms in late spring to early summer, typically from May to June. The bloom season coincides with the emergence of many pollinators, making Fringecup an important early-season nectar source for native bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. The size and arrangement of the flowers is particularly attractive to small woodland bumblebees, who clamber up the stems as they harvest from the flowers one by one. While the flowers of some populations are naturally pinker, the change in hue of others appears to correlate with unsuccessful pollination, and suggests that plants alter flower color to appeal to a wider variety of pollinators in the absence of bumblebees. While previously uninterested in the cream-colored flowers of spring, hummingbirds are far more enthusiastic feeders after flowers change color. The lush, low foliage of Fringecup also provides shelter and habitat for birds, small mammals, and amphibians while also helping to keep soil in its habitat cool and damp.
 
Fringecup works well as a ground cover in shaded or woodland gardens and is also suitable for use in rain gardens or along the edges of streams, where they can help to stabilize soil and prevent erosion. Plants prefer well-drained, moist soils rich in organic matter, but can tolerate a range of soil textures including loam and clay, as long as the soil is not waterlogged. Fringecup is easily propagated from seed, which can be surface sown on prepared soil from spring through late summer. Soils must be kept evenly moist and seedlings protected from full sun until mature. Plants are susceptible to powdery mildew in overly dry conditions.