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Common Featherbells Stenanthium gramineum

Phonetic Spelling
sten-ANTH-ee-um gram-IN-ee-um
Description

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, wet meadows, pond edges, and sandy bogs. The fragrant flowers attract bees and the foliage is regularly 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:
Tags:
#fragrant#deciduous#fragrant flowers#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#nectar plant#ornamental grass#NC native#food source fall#Coastal FAC#Piedmont Mountains FACW#humidity tolerant#bee friendly#Audubon#perennial#wildflower
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#fragrant#deciduous#fragrant flowers#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#nectar plant#ornamental grass#NC native#food source fall#Coastal FAC#Piedmont Mountains FACW#humidity tolerant#bee friendly#Audubon#perennial#wildflower
  • 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:
    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