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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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Pyrola asarifolia (Liverleaf wintergreen)
Glase, Terry

Pyrola asarifolia

Pyrola asarifolia Michx.

Liverleaf Wintergreen, Pink Wintergreen, Pink Pyrola, Pink Shinleaf, Bog Wintergreen

Pyrolaceae (Shinleaf Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: pyas

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

A basal rosette of thick, roundish leaves, with petioles at least as long as the blade, subtends an 8-24 in., leafless flowering stalk. A little woodland plant with shiny, leathery leaves near base and 5-25 pink to reddish-pink flowers hanging in racemes at top. Leaves are leathery, glossy, dark green above and purplish beneath, with wavy edges. The waxy flowers are 1/2 in. broad.

Pyrola species are common woodland wildflowers. Sometimes they are leafless, in which case they are saprophytes, absorbing their nutrients from the rich soil humus. All such, regardless of their biological species, were once classified as P. aphylla, but leafless phases with pink flowers are probably P. asarifolia.

Many authorities show this genus to now belong in the Ericaceae family.

 

From the Image Gallery

14 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 2 feet tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Pink , Purple
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep
Bloom Notes: White, pink to pale purple.

Distribution

USA: AK , CA , CO , IA , ID , IN , MA , ME , MI , MN , MT , ND , NH , NM , NV , NY , OH , OR , PA , RI , SD , UT , VT , WA , WI , WY
Canada: NB , NS , PE
Native Distribution: Nf. to AK, s. to n. New England, c. & w. NY, n. IN, WI, ND, NM mts. & CA
Native Habitat: Damp, open, mossy forests & stream banks

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil Description: Moist, rich, calcareous soil.

Propagation

Description: Dust-like seed is difficult to germinate but may produce plants if sown on sphagnum moss.
Commercially Avail: yes

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Native plants to stop pond bank erosion
June 04, 2008
I recently purchased a home with a small pond in which a nearby stream daylights. The former owner placed large field stone around the pond and the small stream; however, the area around the pond and...
view the full question and answer

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:AGCPAKAWCBEMPGPHIMWNCNEWMVE
Status: FACU FAC FACU FACW FACW FACU
This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

Web Reference

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

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-05-03
Research By: TWC Staff

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