Downy Rattlesnake Plantain
Goodyera pubescens
Also listed as Peramium pubescens, Epipactis pubescens
Climate Match for your location
See how well Downy Rattlesnake Plantain grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
A delicate woodland orchid featuring distinctive dark green leaves with white venation in a rosette pattern. Produces small white flowers on slender spikes in late summer and is prized for its ornamental foliage in shaded garden settings.
Why grow it
Downy rattlesnake plantain distinguishes itself among woodland orchids through its year-round ornamental foliage rather than showy flowers, making it valuable where extended visual interest matters more than seasonal blooms. Unlike many terrestrial orchids, it tolerates a range of acidic woodland soils and does not require specialized mycorrhizal inoculation to establish in appropriate conditions. It provides groundcover function in shaded gardens where few other orchids perform reliably.
Watch out for
This species demands consistently moist (not waterlogged) soil and struggles in dry shade or areas with significant moisture fluctuation. Transplanting wild populations is ecologically problematic and illegal in some regions; nursery-propagated stock is preferable. Slugs and snails can damage emerging growth, particularly in humid conditions without adequate air circulation.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Orchidaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A delicate woodland orchid featuring distinctive dark green leaves with white venation in a rosette pattern. Produces small white flowers on slender spikes in late summer and is prized for its ornamental foliage in shaded garden settings.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Downy Rattlesnake Plantain grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Downy rattlesnake plantain distinguishes itself among woodland orchids through its year-round ornamental foliage rather than showy flowers, making it valuable where extended visual interest matters more than seasonal blooms. Unlike many terrestrial orchids, it tolerates a range of acidic woodland soils and does not require specialized mycorrhizal inoculation to establish in appropriate conditions. It provides groundcover function in shaded gardens where few other orchids perform reliably.
Watch out for
This species demands consistently moist (not waterlogged) soil and struggles in dry shade or areas with significant moisture fluctuation. Transplanting wild populations is ecologically problematic and illegal in some regions; nursery-propagated stock is preferable. Slugs and snails can damage emerging growth, particularly in humid conditions without adequate air circulation.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Orchidaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar herbs you might consider:
Enter your ZIP code to see top native species and strong climate fits for you.