Galax is a North Carolina native in the Diapensiaceae family that is a common understory species of awide variety of forests in the east-central and southern United States that exhibits shiny, long-stalked, roundish heart-shaped leaves, 2-5 in. wide. The genus name is from the Greek word gala ("milk") in reference to the flower color. It is a perennial with bright green leaves in summer that become bronzed to reddish in winter. Small white feathery flowers arranged in a narrow cluster on a naked stalk rise above the leaves in late spring or early summer. The flower stalks are 8-15 inches high. Galax prefers cool, moist sites with partial shade. It is common in the NC mountains and Piedmont, but unusual in the coastal areas. It grows in slow-expanding clumps and its flowers attract bees. Use this plant in woodland gardens, on banks and slopes, in naturalized areas and cottage gardens. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Spreading
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Rosulate
Leaf shape
Cordate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf feel
Leathery
Leaf value
Long-lasting; Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leathery heart-shaped leaves with toothed margins 2-5 inches in size
Fall color
Red/Burgundy
Flower color
White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Raceme; Spike
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Small white feathery flowers with 5 petals are arranged in a narrow cluster on a naked stalk that rises above the leaves. Blooms from May to July
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The capsule contains many seeds. Displays from August to October
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Smooth green stem
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Ohio to South Eastern U.S.A
Distribution
Southeastern US (except Florida); expanding northward and into the Midwest. Mostly in mountainous areas