Downy Rattlesnake-Plantain
Goodyera pubescens
Last reviewed: August 2026
Downy Rattlesnake-Plantain is a woodland forb grown for its evergreen, white-veined basal leaves and spikes of small white flowers from July through September.
Toxicity unknown
Downy Rattlesnake-Plantain (Goodyera pubescens) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
part shade
Water
medium
Size
4"–12" H × 4"–8" W
Bloom
Jul, Aug, Sep
Native to
AL, AR, CT, DE and 26 more states
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
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Downy rattlesnake plantain is a low-growing native orchid with distinctive white-veined evergreen leaves arranged in a basal rosette. In summer, it produces delicate white flower spikes that rise above the foliage, creating an elegant woodland groundcover.
Growing Downy Rattlesnake-Plantain
Grow Downy Rattlesnake-Plantain in part shade and medium water. Mature plants reach 4 to 12 inches tall and spread 4 to 8 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Downy Rattlesnake-Plantain takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Appears too wild and woodland-like for formal landscapes
- Very small stature may look unkempt in maintained beds
- Native orchid appearance unfamiliar to most homeowners
Wildlife value
The flowers attract small native bees and beneficial insects during summer blooming period. The evergreen foliage provides year-round ground-level habitat for small woodland creatures.
Common questions
- When does Goodyera pubescens bloom?
- Downy Rattlesnake-Plantain sends up a spike of small white flowers between July and September, appearing above its low rosette of leaves.
- What does the foliage look like year round?
- The basal leaves are evergreen and stay on the plant through winter, showing a pattern of pale silvery veining over dark green that makes the rosette easy to spot in the leaf litter.
- What growing conditions does this plant prefer?
- It does best in part shade to full shade with medium to somewhat dry, well-drained soil, conditions typical of the forest floor beneath deciduous or mixed woodland canopy.
- Does Goodyera pubescens attract pollinators?
- No specific pollinator has been documented for this listing, so no pollinator claim is made here.
- Is Downy Rattlesnake-Plantain HOA-friendly?
- Downy Rattlesnake-Plantain takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Downy Rattlesnake-Plantain? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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