Bloomipedia
Pipsissewa (Chimaphila umbellata)
Photo: Kent P. McFarland via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized

Flower profile

Pipsissewa

Chimaphila umbellata

Pipsissewa (Chimaphila umbellata) is a low shrub in the Ericaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly June–August across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Pipsissewa is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 7 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in June–August.

36states where USDA records it
7Bloomipedia state lists include it
15,719U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Idaho, Massachusetts, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming

Quick look

Chimaphila umbellata, the umbellate wintergreen, pipsissewa, or prince's pine, is a small perennial flowering plant found in dry woodlands, or sandy soils. It is native throughout the cool temperate Northern Hemisphere.

  • It belongs to the Ericaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as a subshrub with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 36 states. USDA PLANTS
  • In Washington, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–August. iNaturalist
  • In Oregon, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–August. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as white. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as late spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 1.5 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 2,361 research-grade sightings of it in Washington, ranking #77 among the 187 flowers on our Washington list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,153 research-grade sightings of it in Oregon, ranking #78 among the 184 flowers on our Oregon list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,986 research-grade sightings of it in Massachusetts, ranking #76 among the 188 flowers on our Massachusetts list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (3,236 records)
Bloom time in the 7 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
WashingtonNativeJune–August2,361
OregonNativeJune–August2,153
MassachusettsNativeJune–July1,986
MontanaNativeJuly–August955
IdahoNativeJuly–August620
New HampshireNativefew records (45)463
WyomingNativeJuly–August448

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Washington
No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Washington.
Oregon
Not listed Not on Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Oregon. OAR 603-073-0070
Massachusetts
Not listed Not on Massachusetts Endangered Species Act list (321 CMR 10.90). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Massachusetts. MESA list
Montana
No list Montana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Montana ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in Montana.
Idaho
No list Idaho has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Idaho ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Idaho.
New Hampshire
Not listed Not on New Hampshire Official Rare Plants List (Ncr 312, eff. Jan 1, 2020). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in New Hampshire. NH Ncr 312
Wyoming
No list Wyoming has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Wyoming ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Wyoming.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: DE (S2), IA (S1), IL (SH), IN (S1), NV (S1), OH (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records pipsissewa in 36 states plus Washington, D.C.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming; District of Columbia.

Washington counties with USDA records: Asotin, Chelan, Clallam, Columbia, Cowlitz, Ferry, Garfield, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lewis, Mason, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Spokane, Stevens, Thurston, Walla Walla, Whatcom, Yakima.

Oregon counties with USDA records: Baker, Benton, Clackamas, Coos, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Grant, Harney, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lake, Lane, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Tillamook, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco.

Massachusetts counties with USDA records: Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Nantucket, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, Worcester.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Pipsissewa a low shade tolerance, medium drought tolerance and low moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 5.4 to 7.4 and winter lows down to -38 °F.

Shade tolerance
Low
Drought tolerance
Medium
Moisture use
Low
Soil textures it is adapted to
coarse, medium
Soil pH range
5.4 to 7.4
Minimum temperature tolerated
-38 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
85
Annual precipitation range
30 to 55 inches
Minimum root depth
8 inches
Salinity tolerance
None
Fertility requirement
Medium
Growth rate
Slow
Lifespan
Long
Active growth period
Summer
Fruit or seed
Brown · Summer to Summer
Can be propagated by
seed, sprigs, tubers
Commercial availability
Contracting Only

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for CHUM. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Alaska: Native; Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 590 counties across 34 states; the most are in Virginia (68), Michigan (64), Wisconsin (54).

Other Chimaphila on Bloomipedia (1): Striped wintergreen.

More from the Ericaceae family (55 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Ghost pipe, Rhododendrons and azaleas, Mountain laurel, Eastern teaberry (wintergreen), Salal, Woodland pinedrops, Pinesap, Trailing arbutus (mayflower).

More Washington flowers

Salal (Gaultheria shallon)

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Ghost pipe (Monotropa uniflora)

Ghost pipe

Monotropa uniflora

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🌼 Blooms in WA: June–August
Pink mountainheath (Phyllodoce empetriformis)

Pink mountainheath

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🌼 Blooms in WA: June–August

Sources