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 West 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

County records are not available.

Natural habitats

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

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Woods Scene — Harvey Joiner, Woods Scene: tall beeches in a moist Kentucky woodland, light falling through a closed canopy onto a damp forest floor. Regional view: the painting does not name the exact site. Shown: Kentucky beech woods (Harvey Joiner, Louisville painter of Kentucky beech forests; the painting does not name the site), a neighboring state.Woods Scene, Harvey Joiner, c. 1880-1920. 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 West Virginia. Shared habitat, not food. 97 animals.

Yellow-throated Warbler
Dendroica dominica
Birds. 1 shared habitat

Widespread birds also seen here (38)

Found in many habitats here, so not listed above.

All wildlife of West Virginia

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

0CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including WV

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

West Virginia rank	S1
Global rank	G2G3
WV 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