Stenanthium gramineum
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- sten-ANTH-ee-um gram-IN-ee-um
- Description
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Stenanthium gramineum, or Feather Bells, is an perennial, herbaceous wildflower in the lily family. The plant displays small white flowers in a large cluster from June through September. It is native to the southeastern United States and often found in open, rocky woods and sandy bogs. The fragrant flowers attract bees and the foliage is often seen as ornamental.
Feather Bells tolerates average soil, but performs best in slightly acidic, well-drained soil, rich in organic material. Except for deep shade, it can be grown under any light condition; however, the best flower performance occurs in full sun with supplemental watering to keep the soil consistently moist. It enjoys a long blooming period of 6 weeks, or more, beginning mid to late summer and possibly extending until frost.
Mature clumps can be divided while dormant or in early spring, but it is best propagated from seed. Although naturalizing, this is not an aggressive species.
Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems:
No known diseases or problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Stenanthium
- Species:
- gramineum
- Family:
- Melanthiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central & Eastern U.S.A
- Distribution:
- throughout
- Wildlife Value:
- Insects come to the plant for the nectar.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6b, 6a, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit displays from AUgust to October.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Colored Sepals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- A large, narrow, pyramidal panicle of small, white to green, nodding flowers on branches cluster up to 2 feet long. Each flower has three pointed petals and three sepals (longer than their width). Flowers on lateral branches are mostly staminate. Flowers bloom from June to September.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Long, narrow grasslike leaves are folded lengthwise, most numerous near the base.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Stem rises from a basal rosette of folded, grass-like leaves and supports a pannicle of white flowers.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
