Native Plants

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.

Enter a Plant Name:
Or you can choose a plant family:

Cressler, Alan

Obolaria virginica

Obolaria virginica L.

Virginia Pennywort, Pennywort

Gentianaceae (Gentian Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: obvi

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

A low fleshy plant with dull white or purplish flowers, usually in groups of 3 in axils of purplish, bract-like upper leaves and atop stem.

The genus name comes from the Greek obolos ("a small coin") and refers to the opposite, roundish leaves of this low, southern, woodland perennial. The common name also reflects the coin-like appearance of the leaves.

From the Image Gallery

8 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 6 inches tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Purple
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun
Bloom Notes: White to purplish.

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , DC , DE , FL , GA , IL , IN , KY , LA , MD , MO , MS , NC , NJ , OH , PA , SC , TN , TX , VA , WV
Native Distribution: New Jersey and Pennsylvania south to Florida, west to Texas, and northeast to Arkansas, Missouri, and Illinois.
Native Habitat: Moist hardwoods and thickets.

Web Reference

Webref 57 - Atlas of Florida Plants (2020) Institute for Systematic Botany
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-04-04
Research By: TWC Staff

Go back