NC Native Plant Society:
Plant Details

Shortia galacifolia

Shortia, Oconee Bells

Scientific Name:	Shortia galacifolia
Genus:	Shortia
Species Epithet:	galacifolia
Common Name:	Shortia, Oconee Bells
Plant Type	Herb/Wildflower
Life Cycle	Perennial
Plant Family	Diapensiaceae (Diapensia Family)
Native/Alien:	NC Native
Size:	0-1 ft.
Bloom Color(s):	White
Light:	Less than 2 hours of sun per day
Soil Moisture:	Moist
Bloom Time:	March, April, July, August
Growing Area:	Mountains
Habitat Description:	S. galacifolia var. brevistyla: On moist slopes, creekbanks, and rock outcrops in humid escarpment gorges with high rainfall, generally in deep shade under Rhododendron maximum, at elevations of 350-550m. Rare in NC Mountains. S. galacifolia var. galacifolia: On moist slopes, creekbanks, and rock outcrops in humid escarpment gorges with high rainfall, generally in deep shade under Rhododendron maximum and R. minus, at elevations (in NC) of 350-650m. Rare in NC Mountains, waif in NC Piedmont (probably persistent after cultivation).
Leaf Arrangement:	Basal
Leaf Retention:	Evergreen
Leaf Type:	Leaves veined, not needle-like or scale-like
Leaf Form:	Simple
Life Cycle:	Perennial
Wildlife Value:	Has some wildlife value
Landscape Value:	Suitable for home landscapes
State Rank:	S2: Imperiled ^(*Key)
Global Rank:	G_T_: Subspecies or Variety Rank (add status to NOTES section) ^(*Key)
State Status:	E: Endangered, SC-V: Special Concern: Vulnerable, Exploited, Endemic ^(*Key)
Notes:	USDA only has recorded occurrences in McDowell and Transylvania Counties in NC. NC Natural Heritage Program Global Rank for Northern Oconee Bells, S. galacifolia var. brevistyla: G3T2; NC Rank S2; NC Status Endangered, Exploited, Endemic. Known only in McDowell Co., NC. NC Natural Heritage Program Global Rank for S. galacifolia var. galacifolia: G2G3T2T3; NC Status SC-V, NC Rank S2, Exploited, Global Rank G3T2T3. Found in Transylvania and Jackson counties, NC, Oconee and Pickens counties, SC, and Rabun County, GA, where it occurs in the remarkable escarpment gorges region, at elevations from 200-650m (formerly at lower elevations, now submerged under Lake Jocassee). Most of the population of this species, including the type locality, was destroyed in the early 1960's by the construction of Lake Jocassee (Zahner & Jones 1983). (Weakley 2015).
Blossom A good picture of this lovely complex bloom! © Jean Woods
Bank of Plants outside Brevard, April 2002
Clump of Plants Black Mountain © MB Baumeister
Seed Capsules
Foliage and Seed Capsule See the new growth's reddish tint. The similarity to galax foliage is plain. Black Mountain © MB Baumeister
Links:	USDA PLANTS Database Record Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Flora of North America