Appalachian Grass-of-Parnassus Parnassia asarifolia
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- par-NASS-ee-uh as-air-ee-FOH-lee-uh
- Description
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Grass-of-Parnassus is a native perennial wildflower found in the mountains of eastern USA including NC, in bogs, seeps, brookbanks. In general, it is found in more acidic habitats than P. grandifloria. It grows in boggy or swampy areas in full sun to partial shade up to 1 foot tall. The 1 inch wide 5-petaled flowers are a lovely white with green veins and occur late summer into fall.
This plant prefers sandy to loam acidic soils in wet sites. It is important not to let it dry out in the summer. Use along streams or ponds and in boggy areas.
Site: Bogs, seepage slopes, stream banks
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Parnassia
- Species:
- asarifolia
- Family:
- Celastraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern USA
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , GA , KY , MD , NC , TN , TX , VA , WV
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are available September-November.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- White
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- 1 in. white flower with five clawed petals; prominent green veins; five stamens alternate with petals. Flowers bloom July-October.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Rosette of 4 inch kidney-shaped long-stalked basal leaves; single clasping leaf on the round stem
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Description:
- Round green stem
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
