Spotted wintergreen
Chimaphila maculata

Family: Ericaceae

What it is like

A herb. It grows 10-25 cm tall. The stems come from creeping rhizomes. The leaves are dark green with lighter patches along the veins and 2-7 cm long by 1-3 cm wide. The flowers are almost round and white or pink. They are on long stalks. The fruit are small capsules 6-8 mm across.

There are 6 Chimaphila species. They are in Europe and North America. The leaves are used as medicine.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It can grow in acid soils. It suits hardiness zones 5-8.

Countries/locations it is found in

Canada, Central America, Mexico, North America, Panama, USA

How it is used for food

The leaves are used for tea. They are also used as a catalyst in the making of an alcoholic drink using maize. Caution: Alcohol is a cause of cancer.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Encinilla, Hierba de madrono, Spotted pipsissewa, Ratsbane

Synonyms

Chimaphila acuminata (Lange) Rydb.; Chimaphila costaricens Andres; Chimaphila dasystemma Torr. ex Rydb.; Chimaphila guatemalensis Rydb.; Chimaphila kochii Andres; Chimaphila maculata var. acuminata Lange; Chimaphila maculata var. dasystemma (Torr. ex Rydb.) Kearney & Peebles; Chimaphila maculata subsp. kochii Andres; Chimaphila maculata subsp. maculata; Pseva maculata (L.) Kuntze; Pyrola maculata L.;