Plant DetailShow Menu

Plants that fill a similar niche:
Saururus cernuus Saururus cernuus
Trillium undulatum Form
Vaccinium macrocarpon Vaccinium macrocarpon

Adder's Mouth Pogonia ophioglossoides

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
poh-GOH-nee-uh oh-fee-oh-gloss-OY-deez
Description

A perennial wildflower-herb in the orchid family that grows in savannahs, bogs, low ditches, and swamps. It usually has only 1 flower on an erect, slender stem.  It can be distinguished from other varieties by its bearded labellum (a central petal at the base of the flower).  Along the center of the labellum are rows of pink, purple or yellow hairs that give a bearded look to the flower.

There is usually a single clasping simple leaf halfway up the stem.  The plant may also have a stalkless bract growing below the flower.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#fragrant flowers#native perennial#nectar plant#upright form#bumblebee friendly#NC native#acidic soils tolerant#native wildflower#food source summer#food source fall#Coastal OBL#food source pollen#Piedmont Mountains OBL#wet soils tolerant#bee friendly#Audubon#boggy sites#wildlife friendly
 
Pogonia ophioglossoides
Pogonia ophioglossoides Orchi wikimedia CC BY-SA 3.0
Pogonia ophioglossoides
Pogonia ophioglossoides Orchi Wikimedia CC BY-SA 3.0
Pogonia ophioglossoides
Pogonia ophioglossoides Orchi Wikimedia CC BY-SA 3.0
Leaf and stem
Leaf and stem Jeff S. CC BY-NC 4.0
Native habitat
Native habitat sirrichardv CC BY-NC 4.0
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#fragrant flowers#native perennial#nectar plant#upright form#bumblebee friendly#NC native#acidic soils tolerant#native wildflower#food source summer#food source fall#Coastal OBL#food source pollen#Piedmont Mountains OBL#wet soils tolerant#bee friendly#Audubon#boggy sites#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Pogonia
    Species:
    ophioglossoides
    Family:
    Orchidaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Central Canada to Eastern Central & Eastern U.S.A
    Wildlife Value:
    Bumblebees frequent this plant
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    Heat and drought tolerant.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Native Plant
    Wildflower
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Sand
    Soil Drainage:
    Occasionally Wet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Green
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Description:
    Erect and pointing upwards or outward. It goes from green to light brown and will split to expose tiny seeds. Fruits display from July to October.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Singly borne rose-pink flowers; lip formed by lower petal is densely bearded or crested. Flowers bloom from March to June.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Lanceolate
    Ovate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    2 to 4 in. single leaf is located about midway on the stem; basal leaves are absent at flowering
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Form:
    Straight
    Stem Description:
    Single stemmed, hairless and green, darker near the base
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Riparian
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Water Garden
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Wet Soil