Little Prince's Pine
ExplorePlants
Little Prince's Pine
Chimaphila menziesii
Little Prince's Pine is a small, evergreen plant that grows close to the ground. It has shiny, dark green leaves and pretty white flowers that bloom in spring. This plant loves to live in cool, shady forests.
Habitat: Forests
Appearance
The Little Prince's Pine is a low-growing evergreen herb with whorls of dark green, shiny, leathery leaves often mottled with lighter veins and serrated edges. It produces nodding, bell-shaped flowers that are typically white to pinkish-purple, featuring prominent yellow anthers, arranged in small clusters.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderEricalesFamilyEricaceaeGenusChimaphila
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
1
Interesting facts
Even under deep snow, its tough leaves stay green and strong, ready for the first hint of spring!
Its ancient name, 'Pipsissewa,' means 'to break small,' from its traditional medicinal uses!
Its fruits are tiny capsules that burst open, releasing seeds as fine as dust into the wind!
This plant can sometimes 'borrow' nutrients from tiny fungi in the soil, like a clever forest friend!
Special abilities
Ability
Evergreen Resilience
Little Prince's Pine has tough, waxy leaves that stay green all winter, letting it make food when other plants are dormant.
Ability
Underground Networker
Little Prince's Pine connects with tiny fungi underground to share nutrients, helping it thrive in shady forests.
Ability
Rhizome Spreader
This plant can grow new shoots from underground stems, slowly spreading its colony across the forest floor.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 10-30 cm
- Spread
- 15-30 cm
- Flower Size
- 0.8-1.2 cm
- Bloom Season
- Late spring to mid-summer
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- Mild
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
Yellow-faced Bumblebee
Bombus flavifrons
Its flowers attract these fuzzy bees.
pollinates
European Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
Honey bees also visit its bell-shaped blossoms.
eaten by
Mule Deer
Odocoileus hemionus
Deer may browse its evergreen leaves, especially in scarcity.
Traits
Ornamental
Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
Shade Tolerant
Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
Spring Blooming
Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
Evergreen
Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
Medicinal
Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
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.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always look but don't touch wild plants unless a grown-up says it's okay.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Little Prince's Pine?
The easiest way to identify Little Prince's Pine is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How tall is Little Prince's Pine?
10-30 cm
How wide does Little Prince's Pine spread?
15-30 cm
How big are the flowers on Little Prince's Pine?
0.8-1.2 cm
When does Little Prince's Pine bloom?
Late spring to mid-summer
Is Little Prince's Pine edible?
No
Is Little Prince's Pine toxic?
Mild
What is Little Prince's Pine's lifecycle?
Perennial
Snap Map
Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.
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Recent Snaps
Jul 18, 2023
Sun Pass State Foresti
Photo attribution
no rights reserved
License: CC0 1.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
