How to Grow and Care for ground cone

Boschniakia himalaica is a parasitic plant, growing over Rhododendron shrubs and taking their resources. It infests Rhododendrons that grow in the subalpine and temperate parts of the Himalayan region - slopes, forests, and thickets; at 2500 to 4400 m elevation.

Northern groundcone (Boschniakia rossica) is a parasitic plant from northwestern Canada and Alaska whose name comes from its resemblance to pine cones. It contains no chlorophyll, so it must siphon nutrients from other plants to obtain energy. Northern groundcone attaches itself to trees near mid-elevation rivers. Its seeds spread via these waterways.

Vancouver groundcone is a unique parasitic flowering plant lacking chlorophyll, which derives nutrients by attaching to the roots of other species. Exhibiting a stout, fleshy stem with scales where leaves would typically be, it features a cluster of reddish-purple to brown flowers. Vancouver groundcone thrives in shaded, moist forest environments and relies on its host plants for sustenance.

California groundcone is a parasitic plant that thrives on the roots of other vegetation. It has a distinctive cone-like appearance, reminiscent of a pine cone, with overlapping scales. Its lack of chlorophyll means it doesn’t photosynthesize, relying instead on nutrients absorbed from its hosts. This peculiar adaptation allows it to inhabit dark forest understories, often emerging directly from the soil as a brown or purple stalk.