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Fringed Galax Wikimedia Commons
Diapensiaceae

Fringed Galax

Shortia galacifolia

Hidden treasure and rarity.

Family
Diapensiaceae
Genus
Shortia
Native to
Southern Appalachian Mountains, United States
Bloom season
Spring
Type
Herbaceous perennial
Height
6-8 inches
Sunlight
Partial shade to full shade
Soil
Acidic, moist, humus-rich
Water
Moderate to high
Hardiness
5-8
Lifespan
Perennial

Did you know

  • Oconee bells is one of the rarest wildflowers in North America, found only in a few mountain counties in the Carolinas and Georgia.
  • Asa Gray searched for this plant for nearly a century after finding a dried specimen; it was finally rediscovered in 1877.
  • The fringed, bell-shaped flowers have delicately toothed petals that give them a lacework appearance.
  • The glossy, round leaves turn bronze to burgundy in winter, providing year-round interest.
  • It is the state wildflower of Transylvania County, North Carolina, where it grows along shaded stream banks.

Color meanings

0

Mystery

1

Discovery

2

Rarity

Uses

  • Woodland garden
  • Shade garden
  • Conservation
  • Botanical collections