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Tennessee Stitchwort Stellaria corei

Previously known as:

  • Alsine tennesseensis
  • Stellaria puubera var. sylvatica
  • Stellaria sylvatica
  • Stellaria tennesseensis
Phonetic Spelling
stell-AR-ee-AH kor-AYE
Description

Tennessee Starwort is a North Carolina native perennial that can be found in moderate to high elevation forests, particularly where the soil is rocky, as well as in bottom lands, slopes and pastures.  It flowers in April through June, however, the plants begin to wither by late May into June.  The fruits appear after flowering.  

Tennessee Starwort has a spreading growth habit and spreads by rhizomes.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#native perennial#NC native#perennial flowers#rhizomes#rhizomatous#native wildflower#food source summer#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#Audubon#perennial#woodland
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#native perennial#NC native#perennial flowers#rhizomes#rhizomatous#native wildflower#food source summer#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#Audubon#perennial#woodland
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Stellaria
    Species:
    corei
    Family:
    Caryophyllaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Landscape
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    United States
    Distribution:
    AL, IN, KY, NC, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV
    Wildlife Value:
    Host plant of the Pegomya flavifrons (fly). Birds are attracted to the seeds.
    Play Value:
    Attracts Pollinators
    Wildlife Food Source
    Wildlife Larval Host
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Native Plant
    Perennial
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Spreading
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Loam (Silt)
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
    NC Region:
    Mountains
    Piedmont
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Displays from May to July. It will split open when ripe.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Cyme
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Star
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    The flowers are symmetrical, meaning that there are at least two ways to evenly divide the flower, Its white flowers are deeply cleft, making its 5 petals appear to be 10 petals. It can bloom from April to June.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Lanceolate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    The veined leaves are opposite, with two leaves per node running along the stem.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Square
    Stem Form:
    Straight
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    The erect stems are branched. Alternating lines of soft hairs originating from the glands.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Slope/Bank
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Pollinators
    Small Mammals
    Songbirds