Pyrola asarifolia subsp. bracteata
Long-bracted wintergreen, Long-Bracted Wintergreen
Photo: parent species Pyrola asarifolia · no rights reserved · CC0
Family: Ericaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Pyrola asarifolia subsp. bracteata (Long-bracted wintergreen) is a native California subshrub in the Ericaceae family, recognized by long bracts and toothed leaves diagnostic.
Long-bracted wintergreen is a California native perennial found in northwestern California and northern Sierra Nevada Mountains in moist to dry forest, mixed conifer forest, and coastal prairie at elevations of 100 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces white to pink flowers in a distinctive scape 20 to 45 centimeters tall with flower bracts longer than the pedicel. Growing with upright stems, it forms a delicate herbaceous cluster with round to elliptic leaves. Its leaves measure 4.5 to 20 centimeters long, featuring subtle mucronate-dentate edges and a soft green coloration. The flower has white to pale pink petals 6 to 9 millimeters long with delicate, lance-shaped sepals.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species; long bracts and toothed leaves diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Moist to dry forest, mixed conifer forest, coastal prairie
Elevation: 100-2000 m
Outside California: to southern Alaska, Montana
Bloom period
Pyrola asarifolia subsp. bracteata blooms Jun-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Pterospora: Pyrola has green basal leaves; Pterospora is completely leafless and brownish-pink without chlorophyll.; vs Corallorhiza: Pyrola has basal leaves and radially symmetrical flowers; Corallorhiza is leafless with bilateral orchid flowers.; vs Chimaphila: Pyrola leaves are all basal in a rosette; Chimaphila has thick leaves scattered up the stem.; vs Goodyera: Pyrola flowers are radially symmetrical and arranged all around stem; Goodyera has spiral orchid flowers.; vs Orthilia: Pyrola flowers arranged evenly around stem; Orthilia flowers distinctly one-sided along the stalk.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pyrola asarifolia subsp. bracteata native to California?
Yes. Pyrola asarifolia subsp. bracteata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Pyrola asarifolia subsp. bracteata bloom?
Pyrola asarifolia subsp. bracteata blooms Jun-Jul.
What plant family does Pyrola asarifolia subsp. bracteata belong to?
Pyrola asarifolia subsp. bracteata is in the Ericaceae family, genus Pyrola.
What habitat does Pyrola asarifolia subsp. bracteata grow in?
Pyrola asarifolia subsp. bracteata grows in Uncommon. Moist to dry forest, mixed conifer forest, coastal prairie.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.