General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Partial Shade to Full Shade
Full Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Soil pH Preferences: Moderately acid (5.6 – 6.0)
Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5)
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 4a -34.4 °C (-30 °F) to -31.7 °C (-25 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 9b
Plant Height: 3 - 12 inches
Plant Spread: 2 inches
Leaves: Other: This plant lacks chlorophyll and has greatly reduced leaves
Fruit: Dehiscent
Other: 1/2 inch long erect, subglobose 5-celled capsule containing numerous tiny seeds.
Fruiting Time: Late summer or early fall
Fall
Other: May persist through winter.
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Pink
White
Other: White to pale pink, occasionally with small black spots.
Bloom Size: Under 1"
Flower Time: Spring
Late spring or early summer
Summer
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Resistances: Humidity tolerant
Pollinators: Bumblebees
Various insects

Image
Common names
  • Indian Pipe
  • Ghost Flower
  • Corpse Plant
  • Ice Plant
  • Fairy Smoke
  • Dutchman's Pipe
  • Convulsion Weed
  • Bird's Nest
  • Death Plant
  • Indianpipe
  • Pipe Plant

Photo Gallery
Location: Bay of Fundy, NB
Date: August 2018
Location: Nunnelly,Tennessee 
Date: 2023-09-26
Uploaded by Ursula
Location: Western PA
Date: June 2011
Indian Pipe
Location: Eagle Bay, New York
Date: 2011-08-18
Indian Pipe (Monotropa uniflora)
Location: Maggie Valley, NC
Date: 2009-01-05
Indian Pipe (rare pink)
Uploaded by Frillylily
Location: Wilmington, Ma.
Location: our woods, Lackawanna County, Pa
Date: 2023-07-19
Location: our woods, Lackawanna County. Pa
Date: 2023-07-19

photo credit: Walter Siegmund
Location: Dayton, TN
Date: 2014-06-01
Heavy shade in very rich humus under an oak tree

Credit NPS
Location: New York City Area
Date: 2020-06-28
Location: Stamford CT
Date: 2007-07-07
in an oak beech forest
Location: Maggie Valley, North Carolina
Date: 2009-01-05
Indian Pipe (rare pink)
Location: New York City Area
Date: 2020-06-28

Jrg1000

Photo by Dave Matthews
Location: Lucketts, Loudoun County, Virginia
Date: 2015-06-18
Location: Fairfax, VA | June, 2022
Date: 2022-06-03
Location: Fairfax, Virginia (Outdoors)
Location: Mississippi
Date: 2013-10-28
Location: New York
Photo by Dave Matthews
Comments:
  • Posted by mellielong (Lutz, Florida - Zone 9b) on Apr 10, 2015 6:37 PM concerning plant:
    "How to Know the Wildflowers" (1922) by Mrs. William Starr Dana says the following about this plant:

    "They spring from a ball of matted rootlets, and are parasitic, drawing their nourishment from decaying vegetable matter. In fruit the plant erects itself and loses its striking resemblance to a pipe. Its clammy touch, and its disposition to decompose and turn black when handled, has earned it the name of corpse-plant. It was used by the Indians as an eye lotion, and is still believed by some to possess healing properties."
  • Posted by SongofJoy (Clarksville, TN - Zone 6b) on Nov 23, 2013 2:08 AM concerning plant:
    This plant is not dependent on sunlight and can grow in dark environments. The complex relationship with other plant forms that allows this plant to grow makes propagation difficult.
Discussion Threads about this plant
Thread Title Last Reply Replies
Indian pipe by Bla6571 Nov 6, 2018 4:22 PM 0

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