Moneses uniflora aka One Flower Pyrola

Moneses uniflora is a small plant in the heath family, Ericaceae. It is an evergreen perennial: it stays green and lives for years. Its names include one-flowered wintergreen, single beauty and wood nymph. It grows in subarctic and temperate parts of the Northern Hemisphere. Its range takes in parts of Europe and North America. The RHS lists it as native to Britain and Ireland. It grows in pine woods and at damp woodland edges.

Plants reach about 0.33 feet (0.1 metres) in height. They spread to about 1 foot (0.3 metres) across. Their leaves stay green all year. Wild plants grow among moss and fallen pine needles. They tend to shun soils rich in lime. Their small size suits small-scale planting in a woodland garden. A shaded woodland edge is close to their wild home.

Flowers bloom from June to August. Each bloom has both male and female organs. Bees, flies and beetles pollinate the flowers. The plant is self-fertile, too. Its fruit is a capsule. Plants For A Future lists the fruit and seeds as edible. It records the seeds as food, eaten raw or cooked. Its low food-use rating suggests little value as a food plant. The source says little more about eating the fruit.

This plant needs a cool spot with some shade. It prefers moist, sandy woodland soil rich in leaf matter or peat. Loamy soil suits it, too. It prefers acid soil, though the source also lists neutral soil. The soil must stay moist all summer. Plants For A Future rates it hardy to UK zone 2. This rating does not use the RHS H-scale. The evidence favours dappled shade over deep shade for garden use.

This plant is very hard to grow because it needs soil fungi. Its roots must form a mycorrhizal partnership with fungi to grow well. Few seeds sprout, and raising new plants can be hard. Roots do not cope well with disturbance, so division is hard, too. Wild plants in Britain are rare, and their numbers are falling. Forestry is one threat they face. Past folk uses include treating coughs, colds and sore throats. People used leaf poultices on sores and to ease swelling and pain. These past uses do not prove that the plant has health benefits. The source lists no known hazards, but that does not prove safety.