Common Featherbells Stenanthium gramineum
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- sten-ANTH-ee-um gram-IN-ee-um
- Description
-
Stenanthium gramineum, or feather bells, is an herbaceous perennial wildflower in the trillium family (Melanthiaceaea). 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, wet meadows, pond edges, and sandy bogs. The fragrant flowers attract bees and the foliage is regularly seen as ornamental. The epithet means "grassy."
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:
-
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Stenanthium
- Species:
- gramineum
- Family:
- Melanthiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Wildflower
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central & Eastern U.S.A
- Distribution:
- AL, AR, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MD, MI, MS, NC, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV
- Wildlife Value:
- Insects come to the plant for the nectar.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Buffer
- Easy to Grow
- Screening
- Wildlife Food Source
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
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
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit displays from August to October. Each capsule will contain 2 or more seeds.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Cup
- Tubular
- 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.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Long, narrow, grasslike leaves are folded lengthwise, most numerous near the base. Along the stem there are one leaf per node. Basal leaves grow at the plant's base. They are linear and have a corrugated look.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- The stem rises from a basal rosette of folded, grass-like leaves and supports a panicle of white flowers. It is coated by dense parallel fibers that are formed by decaying remains of the prior year's leaf base. Remains unbranched below the inflorescence.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Near Septic
- Patio
- Pond
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Heat
- Humidity
