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Pyrola asarifolia - Michx.

Common Name Bog Wintergreen, Liverleaf wintergreen, Pink wintergreen
Family Pyrolaceae
USDA hardiness 4-8
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Wet soils of bogs, stream courses and around springs, mostly in shady areas and especially in coniferous woodlands, from the plains to around 2,700 metres in the mountains[212].
Range N. America - Alaska to Newfoundland, south to New York, California and New Mexico.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Full shade Semi-shade Full sun
Pyrola asarifolia Bog Wintergreen, Liverleaf wintergreen, Pink wintergreen


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pyrola_uliginosa_bracteata_143-8710.jpg
Pyrola asarifolia Bog Wintergreen, Liverleaf wintergreen, Pink wintergreen
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Wsiegmund

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Pyrola asarifolia is an evergreen Perennial growing to 0.3 m (1ft) by 0.2 m (0ft 8in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4. It is in leaf all year, in flower from June to July. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils and can grow in very acid soils.
It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; not Deep Shade; Ground Cover;

Edible Uses

None known

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antirheumatic  Haemostatic  Hepatic  Ophthalmic

This plant was considered to be an effective remedy in the treatment of rheumatism[207]. A decoction of the leaves, or the leaves and roots, has been used as an eyewash for sore eyes[257]. A decoction of the plant has been used to treat the coughing up of blood[257]. A decoction of the root has been used to treat liver complaints[257].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Plants can be used as a ground cover when spaced about 30cm apart each way[208]. They are somewhat slow to settle down though, and only form a good cover when they are growing luxuriantly[208].

Special Uses

Ground cover

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers a moist sandy woodland soil[111, 200] in a cool position with partial shade[1, 11, 200]. Requires a peaty or leafy acid soil that remains moist in the summer[200]. This is a very difficult plant to grow. It requires a mycorrhizal relationship in the soil and therefore needs to be grown initially in soil collected from around an established plant[200]. It is also very difficult from seed as well as being intolerant of root disturbance which makes division difficult[1]. This species is extremely rare and endangered in the wild[200].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - the only information we have on this species is that it is difficult from seed and germinates infrequently[200]. We would suggest sowing the seed as soon as it is ripe if this is possible. Sow it into soil collected from around an established plant, only just covering the seed, and put the pot in a shady part of a cold frame. Pot up any young seedlings as soon as they are large enough to handle, once again using soil from around an established plant. Plant out into their permanent positions when the plants are large enough. You should not need to use soil from around an established plant to do this since the soil in the pot will contain the necessary micorrhiza. Division with great care in the spring[1, 111]. Pot up the divisions using some soil from around an established plant, grow on in a lightly shaded part of a greenhouse or frame and do not plant out until the plants are growing away vigorously[200].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Russian Federation-Western Siberia (Western Siberia), Russian Federation-Eastern Siberia (Eastern Siberia), Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russian Federation (Amur, Cukotskij avtonomnyj okrug, Habarovskij kraj, Kamcatskij kraj, Kurile Islands, Magadanskaja oblast, Primorye), China (Hebei Sheng, Heilongjiang Sheng, Henan Sheng, Jilin Sheng, Liaoning Sheng, Nei Mongol Zizhiqu, Shanxi Sheng, Xinjiang Uygur Zizhiqu), Korea, Japan (Hokkaidô, Honshu) NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Northwest Territories, Yukon, Québec, Nova Scotia, Ontario, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, British Columbia), United States (Alaska, Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Minnesota, North Dakota (north), South Dakota (west), Wisconsin, Colorado, Idaho, Montana (east), Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, New Mexico (north), California, Nevada, Utah)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Chimaphila maculataSpotted Wintergreen, Striped prince's pine, PipsissewaShrub0.3 6-7 SLMHSNM132
Chimaphila umbellataPipsissewaShrub0.4 4-8 SLMHFSM232
Moneses unifloraSingle DelightPerennial0.1 -  LMFSNM12 
Orthilia secundaSidebells WintergreenPerennial0.1 4-8  LMFSNM11 
Pterospora andromedeaWoodland Pinedrops 0.0 -  LMHSNM11 
Pyrola chloranthaGreen-Flowered WintergreenPerennial0.3 4-8  LMFSNM01 
Pyrola ellipticaWaxflower ShinleafPerennial0.2 3-7  LMFSNM02 
Pyrola minorWintergreen, Snowline wintergreenPerennial0.1 4-8  LMFSNM11 
Pyrola rotundifoliaRound-Leaved WintergreenPerennial0.3 4-8  LMFSNM023

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Michx.

Botanical References

200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Judi Kidder   Fri Jul 28 2006

This plant grows freely in roadside drainage ditches and boggy areas beneath cottonwood, alder and willow trees. It is common in the Bells Flats area of Kodiak Island, Alaska.

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