• Photo of Parnassia asarifolia (Parnassia asarifolias)

Plant Profile: Parnassia asarifolia

Taxonomy: Parnassia asarifolia

Names

Appalachian Grass-of-Parnassus, Grass-of-parnassus, Kidney-leaf Grass-of-parnassus

  • Photo of Parnassia asarifolia (Parnassia asarifolias)

Phonetic Spelling:par-NASS-ee-uh as-air-ee-FOH-lee-uh

Genus:Parnassia

Species:asarifolia

Family:

Grass-of-Parnassus is a perennial wildflower indigenous to the mountainous regions of the eastern United States, including North Carolina. It typically thrives in bogs, seeps, and along the banks of brooks, favoring more acidic environments compared to P. grandiflora. This plant can reach heights of up to one foot and flourishes in wet, boggy areas, enjoying full sun to partial shade. Its charming flowers, measuring about one inch across, feature five petals that are predominantly white with delicate green veins, blooming from late summer into fall.

This species thrives best in sandy to loamy acidic soils located in moist areas. It is crucial to ensure that the plant does not dry out during the summer months. Grass-of-Parnassus is ideally suited for planting near streams, ponds, and in boggy locations.

**Preferred Habitats:** Bogs, seepage slopes, and stream banks.

Parnassia asarifolia Feature Summary

Parnassia asarifolia Image Gallery

Tags

#NC native
#native wildflower
#wildflower garden
#Coastal OBL
#Piedmont Mountains OBL
#bird friendly
#food source hard mast fruit
#audubon

Similar Plants

Parnassia asarifolia Feature Summary

Attributes
AL , AR , GA , KY , MD , NC , TN , TX , VA , WV
Perennial
Fruit
Fruits are available September-November.
Flowers
1 in. white flower with five clawed petals; prominent green veins; five stamens alternate with petals. Flowers bloom July-October.
White
Green
4-5 petals/rays
Leaves
Rosette of 4 inch kidney-shaped long-stalked basal leaves; single clasping leaf on the round stem
3-6 inches
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Moist
Occasionally Wet
Mountains
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape
Native Garden
Songbirds

Parnassia asarifolia Attributes

Parnassia asarifolia: Country Or Region Of Origin

Eastern USA

Parnassia asarifolia: Distribution

AL , AR , GA , KY , MD , NC , TN , TX , VA , WV

Parnassia asarifolia: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Parnassia asarifolia: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Parnassia asarifolia Fruit

Parnassia asarifolia: Fruit Description

Fruits are available September-November.

Parnassia asarifolia: Display/Harvest Time

Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter

Parnassia asarifolia Flowers

Parnassia asarifolia: Flower Description

1 in. white flower with five clawed petals; prominent green veins; five stamens alternate with petals. Flowers bloom July-October.

Parnassia asarifolia: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Green
filter_vintage
White

Parnassia asarifolia: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Parnassia asarifolia: Flower Petals

2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals

Parnassia asarifolia Leaves

Parnassia asarifolia: Leaf Description

Rosette of 4 inch kidney-shaped long-stalked basal leaves; single clasping leaf on the round stem

Parnassia asarifolia: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Parnassia asarifolia: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Parnassia asarifolia: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Parnassia asarifolia: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Parnassia asarifolia: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Parnassia asarifolia: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Parnassia asarifolia Stem

Parnassia asarifolia: Stem Description

Round green stem

Parnassia asarifolia: Stem Color

grass
Green

Parnassia asarifolia: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Parnassia asarifolia: Stem Cross Section

Angular
Oval
Round
Square

Parnassia asarifolia Whole Plant Traits

Parnassia asarifolia: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Parnassia asarifolia: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Parnassia asarifolia: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Parnassia asarifolia Cultural Conditions

Parnassia asarifolia: 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)

Parnassia asarifolia: Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Parnassia asarifolia: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Parnassia asarifolia: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Parnassia asarifolia: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b

Parnassia asarifolia: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Parnassia asarifolia Landscape

Parnassia asarifolia: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Parnassia asarifolia: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees