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Pyrola elliptica - Nutt.

Common Name Waxflower Shinleaf
Family Pyrolaceae
USDA hardiness 3-7
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Rich, mainly dry woods[222, 235].
Range Northern N. America - Newfoundland to Alaska and south to Virginia and Nebraska.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Full shade Semi-shade Full sun
Pyrola elliptica Waxflower Shinleaf


William S. Justice @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Pyrola elliptica Waxflower Shinleaf
USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. 3 vols. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York. Vol. 2

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Pyrola elliptica is an evergreen Perennial growing to 0.2 m (0ft 8in) by 0.3 m (1ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 3. 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;

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.
Analgesic  Ophthalmic  Tonic  Vulnerary

The leaves have analgesic properties and were used as a poultice on bruised shins and other sores and wounds[207, 222, 257]. A tea made from the whole plant was used to treat epileptic fits in babies[222, 257]. A decoction of the whole plant has been used as eye drops to treat sore eyes, sties and inflamed eyelids[257]. A tea made from the leaves was used as a gargle for sore throats and cankers in the mouth[222, 257]. A tea made from the roots is tonic[222].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

Scented Plants

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]. The flowers have a delicate sweet perfume[245]. 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

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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

NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Québec, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, British Columbia), United States (Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, New Mexico)

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 asarifoliaBog Wintergreen, Liverleaf wintergreen, Pink wintergreenPerennial0.3 4-8  LMFSNM013
Pyrola chloranthaGreen-Flowered WintergreenPerennial0.3 4-8  LMFSNM01 
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

Nutt.

Botanical References

200235

Links / References

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

Readers comment

   Sun Mar 23 2008

I have apparently discovered a small patch of Pyrola E. growing just outside Sudbury, Ontario. I have posted a photo on the site listed below. So if it's rare and endangered, what do you think I should do. It is living in a very precarious site. It is on a small "rock island" on the edge of a mine tailings waste dump.

Dave's Garden

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