Stellaria holostea

RHS Plant Profile
greater stitchwort

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Stellaria holostea?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants
greater stitchwort RHS

Other common names

adder's meat, ag-flower, ag-worm flower, all-bone, bird's tongue, break-bones, devil's corn, devil's eye, Easter bells, greater starwort, lady's lint, lady's white petticoat, Latin flower, little John, May grass, miller's star, moonflower, satin flower, snake flower, snake grass, snap Jack, snappers, snap-stalks, starflower, thunder flower, tongue grass

RHS Recommended

Plants for pollinators
Herbaceous Perennial
Buy this from Plant Nurseries
7 Suppliers

A perennial that reaches around 50cm in height. Stems are brittle, leaves are grass-like and both are rough-edged and greyish-green. White flowers, with five deeply-notched petals, are borne in spring and early summer, followed by seed capsules that make a popping sound when ripe

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0-0.1 metre

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0-0.1 metre
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Neutral

Position

Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H7

RHS Recommended: for People & Planet

RHS Recommended Plants for People & Planet

For Water Resilience

Plants for Flood Resilience

Plants that can help manage heavy rain by catching rainfall, slowing surface run-off, encouraging water into the soil or taking it up through their roots, contributing to flood resilient gardens.

Plants for both Wet and Dry Conditions

Plants that cope with changing soil moisture, including wet winters and extended summer dry. Once established, they grow as wet and dry conditions alternate.

For Temperature Resilience

Plants for Temperature Cooling

Plants that cool air temperature by providing shade, transpiration, or reflection to reduce heat impact on people, animals, soil or other ground surface.

Plants for Wind Shelter

Plants with dense canopies often grown as a tall thick hedge or grouping can block wind and shelter gardens, buildings and people.

For Carbon Storage

Plants for Carbon Storage

Plants that can take up carbon (CO₂) through photosynthesis and store it within the plant or deposit it by their roots into the soil.

For Biodiversity

Plants for Pollinators

Plants that have flowering properties (pollen and/or nectar) that are particularly beneficial for pollinating insects such as bees, butterflies and hoverflies.

Growing conditions for maximum benefit

This plant will provide the maximum benefits if it is healthy and allowed to grow to maturity

For Bio-Diversity

  • Plants for Pollinators

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Caryophyllaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
Yes
Foliage
Semi evergreen
Habit
Clump forming
Genus
Stellaria can be annuals or herbaceous perennials, with slender stems bearing simple, opposite leaves and terminal cymes of white flowers with 5 deeply notched petals
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
Europe, N. Africa

How to Grow

Cultivation

Prefers moist, mildly acidic infertile soils. Occurs in woodland and hedgerows in semi-shaded sites

Propagation

Propagate by seed

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Wildlife gardens
  • Wildflower meadow

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free