Indian Pipe is a bizarre, ghostly white wildflower that contains no chlorophyll and obtains all nutrients as a myco-heterotroph, stealing carbon from mycorrhizal fungi connected to forest trees. It glows eerie white in dark forest understories across eastern North America. Unlike most wildflowers, it turns black when handled or after dying.
Best time to see a Indian Pipe
The best time to see a Indian Pipe is July–August, when about 61% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 82,910 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Indian Pipe? What plant is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
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