Adder's Violet

Goodyera pubescens (GOOD-yer-uh pew-BES-ens)

Family: Orchidaceae Native Herbaceous (1-3 ft)

Downy rattlesnake plantain is a native broadleaf evergreen, herbaceous perennial in the orchid family (Orchidaceae). It is found in Southeastern Canada and the East Central and Eastern United States in dry to mesic woodlands, bluffs, wooded slopes, and wooded ravines. The foliage is a low-growing, basal rosette of dark green to blue-green, ovate leaves, with a prominent central white stripe and a network of white markings. A raceme of 20 to 50 tiny, white to greenish-white, downy flowers is borne on a 16 to 20-inch leafless, downy stalk that arises from the center of each rosette. The white leaf markings resemble the skin of some rattlesnakes, and the flower stalks are covered with down, giving it the common name of downy rattlesnake plantain. Its leaves are very similar to those of the common lawn weed, plantain, but this plant is not a weed nor a plantain. It was named the 2016 wildflower of the year. The genus name, Goodyera, honors John Goodyer, a 17th-century British botanist. The specific epithet, pubescens , is Latin for downy or hairy. This references the downy stalk and flowers. Downy rattlesnake plantain is easy to grow in a woodland garden situation. It requires dappled sunlight, acidic soils with organic matter, and a layer of mulch to ensure consistent soil moisture. As with most orchids, the roots have a mycorrhizal relationship with fungi that assists the plant in getting moisture and ­nutrients, while the plant provides products of its photosynthesis to feed the fungus. This plant may spread by either seeds or rhizomes. It is one of the most commonly encountered orchids in the eastern United States; however, it is listed as endangered in Florida and vulnerable in New York. Best enjoyed in shaded native sites or woodlands. Purchase only nursery-grown plants from reputable nurseries, and do not collect any wild plants. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Generally, no significant insect pests or diseases.

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 63 attributes.