




Chimaphila umbellata
Pipsissewa is a small, evergreen plant that grows in shady forests. It has pretty, waxy leaves and delicate white flowers that look like tiny bells. It's a special plant that loves cool, moist places!
Habitat: Forests
The pipsissewa has glossy, dark green leaves arranged in whorls along a reddish stem. Its small, waxy flowers, often pinkish-white, nod downward like tiny bells. These evergreen leaves stand out on the forest floor, especially in winter.





Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Finding this plant means you are exploring a healthy, magical forest!
Its shiny green leaves stay alive all winter, even under deep snow!
Its tiny flowers dangle upside down, like little pink and white bells!
The name "Pipsissewa" means "breaks into small pieces" in an old Native American language!
Pipsissewa has shiny, evergreen leaves that help it make food even in winter when other plants sleep.
Pipsissewa can grow secret underground stems, called rhizomes, to pop up new plants and spread its patch.
Pipsissewa has thick, waxy leaves that help it hold onto precious water in dry forest spots.
Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators.
Bell-shaped flowers possess petals fused or arranged to form a cup-like or campanulate structure resembling a bell.
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Threatened status denotes a species likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future without effective conservation interventions.
Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.
No aliases listed yet.
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always look but don't touch wild plants unless a grown-up says it's okay.
10-25 cm
5-15 cm
1-2 cm
Summer
Yes
None
Perennial
Insect
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British Columbia, CA
You might spot American Dipper, Sockeye Salmon, and Duck.
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Québec, CA
You might spot White-Tailed Deer, Harbor Seal, and Common Eider.
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British Columbia, CA
You might spot Pacific Trillium, Vanilla Leaf, and Japanese Knotweed.
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British Columbia, CA
You might spot Canadian Buffalo-Berry and Oregon Boxwood.
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British Columbia, CA
You might spot Pipsissewa, Western Rattlesnake Plantain, and Salal.
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British Columbia, CA
You might spot Orange Hawkweed, Shinyleaf Meadowsweet, and Columbia Lily.
View guide →