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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.

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Diapensia lapponica

Diapensia lapponica L.

Pincushion Plant, Diapensia

Diapensiaceae (Diapensia Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: DILA

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N), GL (N), SPM (N)

A low-growing plant, forming dense tufts, with white, bell-shaped flowers borne singly on short stalks.

This plant is strikingly showy when in flower. The low, mat-forming habit is typical of many plants in harsh arctic and alpine environments. Diapensia is especially common above the timberline on Mount Washington, New Hampshire. The species name refers to Lapland, where the plant also occurs.

 

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Subshrub
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Rounded mounds up to about 3 inches tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Pink
Bloom Time: May , Jun , Jul , Aug
Bloom Notes: Usually white, sometimes cream, pale pink or rose.

Distribution

USA: AK , ME , NH , NY , VT
Canada: NL , NS , QC
Native Distribution: Manitoba; Quebec and Newfoundland south to New York; also in much of far north.
Native Habitat: Bare ledges, gravel patches, and mountain summits.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Butterflies

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Arctic Blue
(Plebejus glandon)

Larval Host
Learn more at BAMONA

Bibliography

Bibref 1186 - Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr.
Bibref 1185 - Field Guide to Western Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides) (1999) Opler, P.A. and A.B. Wright

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 34 - Go Botany (2019) Native Plant Trust
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

From the Archive

Wildflower Newsletter 1990 VOL. 7, NO.2 - Preservation Blooms in Recreated Prairies, New Wildflower Center Prairie Welcome...

Additional resources

USDA: Find Diapensia lapponica in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Diapensia lapponica in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Diapensia lapponica

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-03-30
Research By: TWC Staff

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