Overview
Pyrola americana, American wintergreen or round-leaved pyrola, is a low, evergreen, rhizomatous perennial in the heath family, reaching 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) in flower. It forms a basal rosette of leathery, rounded, glossy dark-green leaves 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) wide on slender stalks. In summer a leafless flower stalk rises from the rosette, carrying a loose spike of 5-15 nodding, waxy white flowers about 0.5 inch (12 mm) across, each with a long, curved, protruding style. The plant spreads by thin underground rhizomes, forming scattered colonies on the forest floor. Like many heath-family woodland plants, it relies on partnerships with soil fungi to obtain nutrients, which makes it difficult to transplant or cultivate. It grows in the shade of moist conifer and mixed woods with acidic, humus-rich soil. P. americana needs cool, undisturbed woodland conditions and rarely survives once moved to gardens. It is mostly encountered as a native wildflower rather than a cultivated plant.
Native Range
Pyrola americana is native to eastern North America, from eastern Canada south through the Appalachians and the northeastern and north-central United States. It grows in moist, shaded conifer and hardwood forests with acidic soils. It is often found among mosses and leaf litter on the forest floor.Suggested Uses
Pyrola americana occurs in shaded native woodlands and is the subject of conservation and naturalist interest. It is seldom grown in gardens because of its fungal soil requirements. In natural areas it contributes to the evergreen ground layer of acidic forests.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6" - 1'
Width/Spread6" - 1'
Bloom Information
Flowering occurs in summer, roughly June through August. The nodding white flowers open in sequence up the stalk over two to three weeks. Dry, rounded seed capsules follow and release dust-like seed in autumn.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
Dark greenGrowing 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