Small Whorled Pogonia

Isotria medeoloides

Found in acidic moist to moderately dry forests, in the mountains and upper Piedmont usually with Pinus strobus. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Northern Tier edition What its natural habitat tells you

8

Modest

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

Profile 65%

Height: The stem of small whorled pogonia is short, with a maximum height of about 10 inches.
Light: Partial shade, Full shade
Soil moisture: Dry to moist

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Isotria medeoloides — bloom photograph — Robert H. Mohlenbrock @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA NRCS. 1995. Northeast wetland flora: Field office guide to plant species. Northeast National Technical Center, Chester. · Public domain · Original photograph

Federally threatened. Excluded from routine garden suggestions. Consult conservation guidance before obtaining or planting this species. Plant caution source

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

At a glance

Life cycle: Perennial
Bloom: May to June

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Not yet recorded · Spread · Leaves

Recorded in 18 Virginia counties.

Natural habitats

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

1 of 2

Shortia beneath rhododendrons in mountain woodland — Regional / representative. Shown: Mountains of North and South Carolina; exact site not identified, a neighboring state.Shortia beneath rhododendrons in mountain woodland, Marian Ellis Rowan, 1901. Public domain. Source record.

Moderately dry forests

Forests between dry and moist, often oak-hickory on slopes.

Also found with this plant

Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in Virginia. Shared habitat, not food. 140 animals.

Louisiana Waterthrush
Seiurus motacilla
Birds. 4 shared habitats
Northern Parula
Parula americana
Birds. 4 shared habitats
Red-shouldered Hawk
Buteo lineatus
Birds. 4 shared habitats
Summer Tanager
Piranga rubra
Birds. 4 shared habitats
Black-billed Cuckoo
Coccyzus erythropthalmus
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Dendroica caerulescens
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Blackburnian Warbler
Dendroica fusca
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Rusty Blackbird
Euphagus carolinus
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Canada Warbler
Wilsonia canadensis
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Dendroica pensylvanica
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Eurasian Collared-dove
Streptopelia decaocto
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Fish Crow
Corvus ossifragus
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Contopus cooperi
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Pheucticus ludovicianus
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Yellow-throated Warbler
Dendroica dominica
Birds. 2 shared habitats
American Black Duck
Anas rubripes
Birds. 1 shared habitat
American Coot
Fulica americana
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Bank Swallow
Riparia riparia
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Black-crowned Night-heron
Nycticorax nycticorax
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Brown-headed Cowbird
Molothrus ater
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Sitta pusilla
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Cliff Swallow
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Eastern Phoebe
Sayornis phoebe
Birds. 1 shared habitat

All wildlife of Virginia

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

0CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including VA

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: Orchidaceae
Flower color: White, yellow, green or brown

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “May to June” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition · Carolinas and Georgia
Flower color · “White, yellow, green or brown” · Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Height · “The stem of small whorled pogonia is short, with a maximum height of about 10 inches (25 cm).” · Fire Effects Information System: Isotria medeoloides (ranked first; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center differs) · Source botanical description; original units and scope retained
Life cycle · “Perennial” · Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Light · “Partial shade; Full shade (documented habitat)” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition · Carolinas and Georgia
Soil · “Dry; Moist (documented habitat)” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition · Carolinas and Georgia

Conservation status

Virginia rank	S2
Global rank	G2G3
VA status	Not verified
Federal status	Threatened (US Fish and Wildlife Service)

Conservation source Global rank source Federal status source: US Fish and Wildlife Service

In your garden

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Sources