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Trillium catesbyi T. catesbaei
Trillium grandiflorum Flowers
Viola striata Viola striata

Monotropa

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
mah-no-TROH-puh
Description

Ghost Plant is a genus of four species of herbaceous perennial flowering plants that are native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Three species are found in North Carolina. This unusual plant has no chlorophyll. It obtains its nutrients by tapping into the resources of trees, indirectly through mycorrhizal fungi (i.e., it is mycoheterotrophic). Because they do not need any sunlight, they can live in very dark sites such as the floor of deep forests. 

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#black#white flowers#pink flowers#shade garden#fall interest#NC native#summer flowers#herbaceous perennial#NC Native Pollinator Plant#perennial#wildflower#woodland#mycoheterotrophic
 
Plant
Plant pfly CC-BY-SA 2.0
Flowers of M. uniflora
Flowers of M. uniflora Walter Siegmund CC BY-SA 3.0
M. hypopitys plant
M. hypopitys davidreik CC BY-NC 4.0
Fruit
Fruit eknuth CC BY-NC 4.0
Fruit
Fruit dziomber CC BY-NC 4.0
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#black#white flowers#pink flowers#shade garden#fall interest#NC native#summer flowers#herbaceous perennial#NC Native Pollinator Plant#perennial#wildflower#woodland#mycoheterotrophic
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Monotropa
    Family:
    Ericaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Has been used as a nervine in herbal medicine
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Northern America
    Distribution:
    Maine to California and from Florida to Alaska. It is absent from the southwest, intermountain west and the central Rocky mountains
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Native Plant
    Perennial
    Wildflower
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
    Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    NC Region:
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 5a, 6a, 7a, 8a, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    White
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Bell
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    0.7 in. nodding solitary flower at end of a scaly stalk; 4-5 petals and 10 stamens; flowers usually occur in clusters
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Black
    Pink
    White
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Scale-like waxy-white to pinkish-white; contains no chlorophyll; dries to a blackish color
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    White
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Heavy Shade