Pyrola elliptica aka Wild Lily Of The Valley

Pyrola elliptica is a small evergreen wildflower in the heath family, Ericaceae. Its names include shinleaf, white wintergreen, and waxflower shinleaf. This perennial grows wild from Canada into the United States. It lives in woods and along shaded stream banks. Wild sites include dry woods with sandy or loamy soil. It is rare in the mountains of North Carolina.

The plant forms a low rosette with upright flower stalks. These reach about 0.5–0.83 feet [0.15–0.25 metres] tall. Each stalk grows without branches and bears red side stems. The green leaves stay on the plant through winter. Their dull blades are oval to egg-shaped, with rounded tips. Fine teeth edge the leaves, which have no hairs. Leaves reach 0.25 feet [0.076 metres] long. Each blade is longer than its leaf stalk.

Flowers appear in summer, with three to 21 per stalk. They form a raceme above the basal leaves. Each small flower hangs down and has five waxy petals. Petal shades range from white to greenish white or yellow-green. Some petals show green veins. A long, curved pistil extends from each flower. The blooms have a light, sweet scent and attract insect pollinators. Brown fruit follows in the form of flattened, round capsules.

In gardens, shinleaf needs a cool site and moist woodland soil. Sandy or loamy soil suits it, with leaf mould or peat. PFAF favours acid soil that stays moist through summer. NC State also lists neutral soil and some tolerance of dryness. Both sources support partial shade; NC State also lists deep shade. Its listed hardiness range covers USDA zones 3 through 7. Its evergreen leaves and scented flowers suit shaded native gardens.

Shinleaf is hard to grow because its roots need mycorrhizal fungi. PFAF describes both seed raising and division as difficult. The roots do not tolerate disturbance well. These needs limit its use as a routine garden plant. The supplied sources name no specific pests or diseases. Shinleaf takes its name from past use on bruised shins. People also used leaf dressings on sores and wounds. These historical uses do not establish safe or effective treatment. PFAF lists no known edible uses and no known hazards. That lack of reported hazards does not confirm safety for consumption.