American Cancer-root

Conopholis americana

Found in rich, moist forests, under and hemiparasitic on Quercus species. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), South Central edition What its natural habitat tells you

Modest

Native to Mississippi. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 76%

Height: Up to about 8 inches
Light: Dappled sunlight, Deep shade, Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture: Somewhat dry to moist

Will it fit your yard?

Conopholis americana — whole photograph — This image was created by user Dan Molter (shroomydan) at Mushroom Observer, a source for mycological images.You can contact this user here. · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Original photograph

Rare or protected plant. Specialist conservation planting; excluded from routine garden suggestions. Plant caution source

Hidden from default planting suggestions. Wildlife value and native status remain unchanged.

At a glance

Life cycle: Perennial
Bloom: March to June

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Not yet recorded · Spread · Leaves

Recorded in 1 Mississippi county.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

Moist forests

Forests on moist but not wet ground, such as rich slopes and ravines.

All habitats

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

0CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including MS

0BeesSoutheastern regional records

0Specialist beesPollen specialists

—BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

No records yet · Ants · Beetles · Flies · Adult butterflies / moths · Other wasps · Other insects

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Orobanchaceae
Hardiness: Zones 3a–9b
Flower color: Cream or yellow

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “March to June” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition · Carolinas and Georgia
Flower color · “Cream or yellow” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center differs)
Hardiness · “Zones 3a–9b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Height · “Up to about 8 inches” · Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Life cycle · “Perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Light · “Dappled sunlight (shade through upper canopy all day); Deep shade (less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight); Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
primary_flower_color · “yellow” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil · “Moist; Occasionally dry” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Also known as

American Cancer Root; Bear Corn

Conservation status

Mississippi rank	S1
Global rank	G5
MS status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

In your garden

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American Cancer-root

At a glance

Natural habitats

Who uses this plant?

Plant details

Conservation status

Will it fit your yard?

Sources

More Conopholis