striped wintergreen
ExplorePlants
striped wintergreen
Chimaphila maculata
Striped wintergreen is a small plant with pretty, striped leaves and lovely white flowers. It grows close to the ground and loves shady, forested areas.
Habitat: Forests
Appearance
The striped wintergreen has shiny, dark green leaves with striking silvery-white stripes along the veins, making it easily recognizable. Its small, waxy leaves grow in whorls, and it produces delicate, nodding white or pinkish-white flowers.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderEricalesFamilyEricaceaeGenusChimaphila
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
74
Interesting facts
Did you know "wintergreen" means its leaves stay green all year long?
Its tiny flowers face downward, like they're shyly looking at the ground!
Its underground stem lets it pop up in new places like magic!
Some people call it "pipsissewa," a cool Native American name!
Special abilities
Ability
Evergreen Energy
Striped wintergreen has tough, waxy leaves that stay green all winter, allowing it to make food when other plants are dormant.
Ability
Underground Network
Striped wintergreen can spread using underground stems called rhizomes, helping it form colonies and pop up in new spots.
Ability
Hidden Helpers
Striped wintergreen connects with special fungi in the soil to get extra nutrients, helping it grow strong in shady forests.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 10-25 cm
- Spread
- 15-30 cm
- Flower Size
- 0.8-1.2 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
Helps carry pollen between its delicate flowers.
eaten by
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
Deer browse on its evergreen leaves, especially in winter.
parasitizes
Wintergreen Rust
Puccinia chimaphilae
This fungus forms spots and can weaken the plant.
Traits
Striped
Marked with parallel bands or lines of color.
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.
Fruit Bearing
Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds.
Medicinal
Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
Edible
Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
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 plants unless you know they are safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify striped wintergreen?
The easiest way to identify striped wintergreen is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How tall is striped wintergreen?
10-25 cm
How wide does striped wintergreen spread?
15-30 cm
How big are the flowers on striped wintergreen?
0.8-1.2 cm
When does striped wintergreen bloom?
Late spring to mid-summer
Is striped wintergreen edible?
No
Is striped wintergreen toxic?
None
What is striped wintergreen's lifecycle?
Perennial
Snap Map
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Recent Snaps
May 30, 2026
Quaker Farms Historic Districti
Photo attribution
(c) Jessica Utrup, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
May 25, 2026
East Granby Historic Districti
Photo attribution
(c) Mark Apgar, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Mar 23, 2026
South Mountain Reservationi
Photo attribution
(c) Tom Pollard, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
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