Chimaphila maculata
striped wintergreen
Overview
Chimaphila maculata is a low evergreen perennial native to eastern North America, growing 4-10 inches (10-25 cm) tall from slender, creeping underground stems. The leathery, lance-shaped leaves are 1-3 inches (2.5-7.5 cm) long, dark green with a bold white stripe along the midrib and a few white veins, arranged in loose whorls. In midsummer one to five waxy, nodding flowers open at the top of a slender stalk, each about 0.5 inch (1.3 cm) across, white to pale pink with a ring of reddish anthers. The fruit is a dry, round capsule that stands upright and persists into winter. C. maculata grows in dry to moderately moist woodland, especially under oaks and pines on acidic, humus-rich soils. It depends on associations with soil fungi, so it rarely survives transplanting and is slow to establish from seed. Plants spread gradually by rhizome to form small, scattered colonies. The striped evergreen leaves remain through winter, when little else shows on the forest floor.
Native Range
Chimaphila maculata is native to eastern North America, from Ontario and New England south to Georgia and Alabama, and west to the Mississippi valley. It grows in dry, acidic woodland under oaks, pines, and other hardwoods.Suggested Uses
Chimaphila maculata is grown in native woodland and shade gardens on acidic soil, where its striped evergreen leaves show through winter. It suits naturalized plantings under oaks and pines rather than tended beds. Because it resists transplanting, it is most often conserved in place rather than introduced.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height4" - 10"
Width/Spread6" - 1'
Bloom Information
Flowering occurs in midsummer, mainly June and July. The nodding, waxy white-to-pink flowers open a few at a time at the tip of each stalk and are lightly fragrant. Dry seed capsules follow and stand upright through autumn and winter.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
white to pale pinkFoliage Description
dark green with white midrib stripeGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Tolerates up to 4 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight