Michauxii 's Stitchwort Sabulina michauxii
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Arenaria stricta
- Phonetic Spelling
- sab-yoo-LYE-nuh miss-SHOW-ee-eye
- Description
-
Rock Sandwort is a low growing, herbaceous perennial in the honeysuckle family, native to eastern Canada and the United States. In its natural setting, it can be found growing along rocky summits, woodlands, forests, ledges and rock crevices. It has a low growing habit, forming mats or dense clumps and tuffs. Small dished shaped white 5-petaled flowers grow on thin stalks as a form called hypanthium (a structure where the basal portions of the calyx (corolla) and the stamens form a cup-shaped tube that contains the nectar secreting organ). Its taproots are woody and thickened with many branches.
Rock Sandwort does best in full sun and can thrive on dry conditions on rocky or gravely soils. In the wild, it occurs often on limestone or sandstone ledges with significant sun exposure. The plant has a long tough root that enables in to grow in cracks and holes in rocky substrates. Given the nature of its native growing environment, it can be challenging to grow in the typical home garden or landscape.
Rock Sandwort has a patchy distribution in the United States and is considered endangered in many states and is listed as extinct in Delaware.
Rock Sandwort has slender, wiry, forking, stems that spread along the ground for 4 to 12 inches and form loose mats.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Sabulina
- Species:
- michauxii
- Family:
- Caryophyllaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern Canada, Central and Eastern United States south to Texas
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- rocky soil
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Dense
- Mounding
- Texture:
- Coarse
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is dry and splits open when ripe.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Panicle
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Saucer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- This plant has small, five-petal flowers. Petals are rounded or slightly notched.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- This plant has opposite, needle-like leaves with tufts of shorter leaves in axis. Leaves are often matted and tightly overlapping. The leaf blade is erect to spreading, veined, and rigid.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Stems are 3 to 16 inches long with erect or ascending branches. Flowering stems can be up to 10 times as long as leaves.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Hanging Baskets
- Rock Wall
- Landscape Theme:
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Small groups
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Dry Soil
- Poor Soil
