North America Native Plant

Piccolia

Botanical name: Piccolia

USDA symbol: PICCO

Habit: lichen

Native status: Native to North America  

The Mystery of Piccolia: When Plant Names Leave Us Puzzled Every once in a while, even the most seasoned native plant enthusiasts come across a botanical puzzle that leaves them scratching their heads. Today, we’re diving into one such mystery: Piccolia. What We Know (And What We Don’t) Here’s what ...

The Mystery of Piccolia: When Plant Names Leave Us Puzzled

Every once in a while, even the most seasoned native plant enthusiasts come across a botanical puzzle that leaves them scratching their heads. Today, we’re diving into one such mystery: Piccolia.

What We Know (And What We Don’t)

Here’s what we can tell you about Piccolia with certainty: it’s listed as being native to North America. Beyond that basic fact, however, this plant name presents quite the botanical mystery. Despite extensive searches through native plant databases, horticultural references, and botanical resources, detailed information about Piccolia remains elusive.

The Challenge of Plant Identification

This situation isn’t uncommon in the plant world! Sometimes we encounter names that might be:

  • Regional or colloquial names that aren’t widely recognized
  • Recently reclassified species with updated nomenclature
  • Misspelled or misidentified plant names
  • Extremely rare or localized species with limited documentation

What This Means for Gardeners

If you’ve come across the name Piccolia and are considering it for your native garden, we’d recommend taking a step back and doing some detective work. Here are some helpful approaches:

  • Double-check the spelling and source of the plant name
  • Consult with local native plant societies or botanical gardens
  • Contact your local extension office for guidance
  • Consider whether this might be a regional name for a more commonly known native species

Moving Forward with Native Plant Choices

While we can’t provide specific growing advice for Piccolia due to lack of reliable information, we can certainly help you find well-documented native alternatives that would thrive in your North American garden. The key is working with reputable native plant nurseries and resources that can provide verified information about plant origins, growing requirements, and ecological benefits.

Remember, successful native gardening relies on accurate plant identification and understanding each species’ specific needs. When in doubt, it’s always better to choose well-documented native plants with proven track records in home landscapes.

The Takeaway

Sometimes the most honest answer in gardening is we need more information. If you have reliable sources about Piccolia or have encountered this plant in your region, we’d love to hear from you! The world of native plants is vast and ever-evolving, and gardener experiences often help fill in the gaps in our botanical knowledge.

Until we can provide more definitive information about Piccolia, we encourage exploring the many well-documented native species that can bring beauty, ecological value, and gardening success to your landscape.

Piccolia

Classification

Group

Lichen

Kingdom

Fungi - Fungi

Subkingdom
Superdivision
Division

Ascomycota - Sac fungi

Subdivision
Class

Ascomycetes

Subclass
Order

Lecanorales

Family

Biatorellaceae M. Choisy ex Hafellner & Casares

Genus

Piccolia A. Massal.

Species

Plant data source: USDA, NRCS 2025. The PLANTS Database. https://plants.usda.gov,. 2/25/2025. National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC USA