Native Plants
Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.
Diapensia lapponica
Diapensia lapponica L.
Pincushion Plant, Diapensia
Diapensiaceae (Diapensia Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: DILA
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N), GL (N), SPM (N)
A low-growing plant, forming dense tufts, with white, bell-shaped flowers borne singly on short stalks.
This plant is strikingly showy when in flower. The low, mat-forming habit is typical of many plants in harsh arctic and alpine environments. Diapensia is especially common above the timberline on Mount Washington, New Hampshire. The species name refers to Lapland, where the plant also occurs.
From the Image Gallery
No images of this plant
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Subshrub
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Rounded mounds up to about 3 inches tall.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: White , PinkBloom Time: May , Jun , Jul , Aug
Bloom Notes: Usually white, sometimes cream, pale pink or rose.
Distribution
USA: AK , ME , NH , NY , VTCanada: NL , NS , QC
Native Distribution: Manitoba; Quebec and Newfoundland south to New York; also in much of far north.
Native Habitat: Bare ledges, gravel patches, and mountain summits.
Benefit
Conspicuous Flowers: yesAttracts: Butterflies
Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)
Arctic Blue (Plebejus glandon) Larval Host |
Bibliography
Bibref 1186 - Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr.Bibref 1185 - Field Guide to Western Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides) (1999) Opler, P.A. and A.B. Wright
Search More Titles in Bibliography
Web Reference
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.Webref 34 - Go Botany (2019) Native Plant Trust
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
From the Archive
Wildflower Newsletter 1990 VOL. 7, NO.2 - Preservation Blooms in Recreated Prairies, New Wildflower Center Prairie Welcome...Additional resources
USDA: Find Diapensia lapponica in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Diapensia lapponica in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Diapensia lapponica
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-03-30Research By: TWC Staff