bog wintergreen

Pyrola asarifolia

Bog wintergreen is a small, evergreen plant that grows in wet, shady places. It has shiny, dark green leaves and pretty white flowers that look like little bells.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The bog wintergreen has rounded, leathery evergreen leaves that often show a reddish tint underneath. Its tall, slender stalk bears nodding, waxy, bell-shaped flowers, typically ranging from white to pink or purplish-red. It visually stands out with its low rosette and upright blooms in damp, shady habitats.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderEricalesFamilyEricaceaeGenusPyrola

bog wintergreen

Interesting facts

"Wintergreen" comes from its leaves staying green all winter!

It can grow in very acidic soil where many other plants can't!

Its tiny flowers hang upside down like little bells!

Some parts of this plant were traditionally used in folk medicine!

Special abilities

Bog wintergreen has thick, evergreen leaves that photosynthesize even under snow, giving it a head start in spring.

Bog wintergreen forms a symbiotic relationship with fungi to help absorb vital nutrients from nutrient-poor bog soils.

Bog wintergreen can spread via rhizomes (underground stems) to form new plants, effectively colonizing suitable damp areas.

Measurements & details

Height: 5-30 cm
Flower Size: 1-2 cm
Bloom Season: Late spring to mid-summer
Edible: No
Toxicity: None
Lifecycle: Perennial
Pollination Method: Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

Common Eastern Bumblebee

Bombus impatiens

collects pollen and nectar from flowers.

pollinates

European Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

visits flowers for nectar and pollen.

eaten by

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

occasionally nibbles its leaves and stems.

Traits

Bell-Shaped Flower

Bell-shaped flowers possess petals fused or arranged to form a cup-like or campanulate structure resembling a bell.

Flowering

Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.

Shade Tolerant

Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.

Evergreen

Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.

Fragrant Flower

Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.

Pollinator Magnet

Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

Forest

Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.