Virginia Tech Dendrology

mountain misery Rosaceae Chamaebatia foliolosa Benth. symbol: CHFO
Leaf: Alternate, finely double to triple compound, evergreen, fern-like (frilly), strongly fragrant, 1 to 3 inches long, dark green above, paler below and dotted with sticky glands.
Flower: Terminal cluster of a few, five white petals, 1/2 to 1 inch across, yellow centers, appearing in late spring to early summer.
Fruit: Single small (1/2 inch) achene with a single seed.
Twig: Green, covered in sticky gland covered hairs.
Bark: Reddish brown to gray, smooth.
Form: Sprawling low shrub up to 3 feet tall (shorter in areas of heavy snow) often densely covering the forest floor.

Additional Range Information: Chamaebatia foliolosa is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDAFS FEIS Silvics - USDA Plants Database
All material 2025 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information