Striped Wintergreen
Chimaphila maculata
Also listed as Chimaphila acuminata, Chimaphila dasystemma
Also known as Spotted Wintergreen, Striped Prince's Pine, Striped Pipsissewa
Climate Match for your location
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A low-growing evergreen groundcover with distinctive white-variegated leaves and small pink or white waxy flowers. It thrives in shaded woodlands and makes an attractive woodland garden accent.
Why grow it
Chimaphila maculata offers reliable deep shade coverage where many groundcovers struggle, and its white-variegated foliage provides visual interest without flowering dependence. Compared to other woodland groundcovers like native gingers or ferns, striped wintergreen establishes slowly but persists with minimal intervention once established in appropriate conditions. It works well in acidic, well-draining soils typical of oak and conifer understories, making it a logical choice for existing woodland gardens rather than amended beds.
Watch out for
This plant prefers consistent moisture and struggles in dry shade or compacted soils; transplanting specimens can be slow to recover, so site selection matters more than with more adaptable groundcovers. Propagation from seed is notoriously difficult, so plan to source nursery-grown plants and allow several seasons for colony establishment before expecting full coverage.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Ericaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A low-growing evergreen groundcover with distinctive white-variegated leaves and small pink or white waxy flowers. It thrives in shaded woodlands and makes an attractive woodland garden accent.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Striped Wintergreen grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Chimaphila maculata offers reliable deep shade coverage where many groundcovers struggle, and its white-variegated foliage provides visual interest without flowering dependence. Compared to other woodland groundcovers like native gingers or ferns, striped wintergreen establishes slowly but persists with minimal intervention once established in appropriate conditions. It works well in acidic, well-draining soils typical of oak and conifer understories, making it a logical choice for existing woodland gardens rather than amended beds.
Watch out for
This plant prefers consistent moisture and struggles in dry shade or compacted soils; transplanting specimens can be slow to recover, so site selection matters more than with more adaptable groundcovers. Propagation from seed is notoriously difficult, so plan to source nursery-grown plants and allow several seasons for colony establishment before expecting full coverage.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Ericaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar ground covers you might consider:
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