Explore Plants
Native Plant Database
Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.
Weyand, Phyllis
Orthilia secunda (L.) House
Sidebells wintergreen, One-sided Wintergreen
Pyrolaceae (Wintergreen Family)
Synonyms: Pyrola secunda
USDA Symbol: orse
USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.
Low patches of shiny, bright green leaves below racemes of 6-20 whitish-green or white flowers all turned to one side.
This species is also found south to Central America and in Eurasia. It is the only species in the genus Orthilia; it was once included in Pyrola, a larger genus of species that inhabit damp woods. Both common names refer to the straight, one-sided flower cluster. Leaves remain green throughout the winter, hence the common name wintergreen.
Bloom Information
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , AugDistribution
USA: AK , AZ , CA , CO , CT , DC , DE , IA , ID , IL , IN , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MT , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NV , NY , OH , OR , PA , RI , SD , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WYCanada: NB , NL , NS , PE
Native Distribution: Alaska south and east to Labrador, and south to southern California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, and Nebraska; also in eastern United States and northern Mexico.
Native Habitat: Moist coniferous woods.
USDA Native Status: L48(N), AK(N), CAN(N), GL(N), SPM(N)
Recommended Species Lists
Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.
View Recommended Species pageAdditional resources
USDA: Find Orthilia secunda in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Orthilia secunda in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Orthilia secunda
Metadata
Record Modified: 2011-01-27Research By: TWC Staff
