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Galax urceolata
galax
Appalachian Mountains, southeastern United States
Overview
Galax urceolata is an evergreen perennial groundcover in the family Diapensiaceae, forming low colonies of glossy, leathery, heart-shaped to round leaves 1.5-3 inches (4-7.5 cm) wide on slender stalks. The leaves are deep green in shade and turn bronze, maroon, or red in winter and where exposed to sun and cold. Spreading underground rhizomes knit the plants into a mat 6-8 inches (15-20 cm) high. In late spring to early summer, slender leafless stalks 8-18 inches (20-45 cm) tall rise above the foliage, each carrying a narrow spike of tiny white flowers. The fruit is a small capsule. It grows in moist, acidic woodland soils in the Appalachian Mountains and nearby Piedmont of the southeastern United States, in shade to part shade. It establishes slowly and needs cool, humus-rich, consistently moist acidic soil, which limits where it can be grown.
Native Range
Galax urceolata is native to the southeastern United States, centered on the Appalachian Mountains from Virginia and West Virginia south to Georgia and Alabama, with scattered Piedmont and coastal populations. It grows in moist, acidic woodland soils.Suggested Uses
Used as an evergreen groundcover in woodland and shade gardens, along shaded paths, and under acid-loving shrubs such as rhododendrons. The foliage is also cut for use in floral arrangements. Space plants 8-12 inches (20-30 cm) apart for a groundcover mat.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6" - 1'6"
Width/Spread1' - 2'
Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
glossy green, bronze-red in winterGrowing 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
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in part shade to full shade in cool, moist, humus-rich, acidic soil with a pH near 4.5-6.0. It does not tolerate heat, drought, alkaline soil, or full sun in warm climates, where the leaves scorch. A mulch of leaf litter keeps the roots cool and moist. It spreads slowly by rhizomes and can take a few years to form a solid cover. No routine feeding is needed beyond the natural breakdown of leaf litter.Pruning
No regular pruning is needed. Damaged or winter-burned leaves can be removed in spring as new growth begins. Spent flower stalks can be cut once bloom finishes.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 2 gallons