ExplorePlants

American wintergreen

Pyrola americana

American wintergreen is a small plant with shiny green leaves and pretty white flowers. It grows close to the ground and loves to live in cool, shady places like forests.

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The American wintergreen has waxy, dark green evergreen leaves that contrast with its bright red berries in fall and winter. Its nodding, bell-shaped flowers are white to pinkish, clustered on a slender reddish stalk rising above the leaves.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderEricalesFamilyEricaceaeGenusPyrola
American wintergreen
aromatic trait badgeflowering trait badgeshade_tolerant trait badgesummer_blooming trait badge
American wintergreen

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Even after the snow falls, its shiny leaves peek through, adding a splash of green to the winter landscape!

Its bright red berries can stay on the plant all winter, offering a colorful snack for wildlife!

Native American tribes used its leaves to make medicinal teas for aches and pains.

The "wintergreen" flavor in many candies comes from a chemical found in this plant and its relatives!

Special abilities

Ability

Evergreen Survival

American wintergreen has tough evergreen leaves that can photosynthesize all winter, helping it survive cold weather.

Ability

Underground Network

American wintergreen spreads with underground stems called rhizomes, allowing it to form new plants and colonize areas.

Ability

Flavorful Defense

American wintergreen has chemicals that give it a unique wintergreen scent and flavor, which helps deter hungry herbivores.

Ability

Mycorrhizal Helper

American wintergreen partners with fungi in its roots to absorb nutrients, especially in poor forest soils.

Measurements & details

Height
5-15 cm
Flower Size
0.5-1.5 cm
Bloom Season
Late spring to summer
Edible
Yes
Toxicity
Mild
Lifecycle
Perennial
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

eats

Ruffed Grouse

Bonasa umbellus

Consumes berries, especially in winter.

eats

White-footed Mouse

Peromyscus leucopus

Feeds on seeds and berries.

pollinates

Common Eastern Bumblebee

Bombus impatiens

Visits flowers to collect nectar and pollen.

symbiotic with

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus

Rhizophagus irregularis

Forms beneficial partnership with plant roots.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Do not eat any plants without asking an adult, even if they look tasty.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is American wintergreen?

5-15 cm

How big are the flowers on American wintergreen?

0.5-1.5 cm

When does American wintergreen bloom?

Late spring to summer

Is American wintergreen edible?

Yes

Is American wintergreen toxic?

Mild

What is American wintergreen's lifecycle?

Perennial

How is American wintergreen pollinated?

Insect

Where is American wintergreen usually found?

Forests

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