Greater stitchwort.

At a glance

Care level

Easy

Plant type

Perennial herb

Light

Partial shade to dappled sunlight

Indoor light

Medium light

Water

Every 3 to 7 days

Mature size

60 cm

Growth rate

Medium

Hardiness

USDA 4 to 8

Bloom time

Mid to late spring

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged to mimic its natural woodland home. Watch for wilting during dry spells, as this plant prefers a bit of humidity. It is quite hardy and generally thrives without much fuss in the right spot.

Watering

Keep the soil damp to the touch without letting it sit in standing water.

Feeding

Apply a balanced organic fertilizer once during the early spring growth phase.

Pruning

Trim back dead foliage after the plant finishes flowering to keep the patch tidy.

Repotting

Divide the root clumps every couple of years to prevent the plant from becoming overcrowded.

Soil

Moist, well draining woodland soil

Soil pH

Neutral to slightly acidic

Temperature

-34 to 30°C

Humidity

40 to 70%

Drought tolerance

Low

Lifespan

Perennial, typically 3 to 5 years.

Deer and rabbits

Moderate

Safety

People

The plant is generally considered non-toxic but is not meant for consumption.

Children

The plant is not dangerous, but keep an eye on small children to prevent them from pulling up or eating the foliage.

Contact allergens

The stems are brittle and can have slightly rough edges that may irritate sensitive skin.

Airborne allergens

There are no notable respiratory allergens associated with this species.

Edibility

This plant is not considered edible and should be avoided.

How to identify it

• Five deeply cleft white petals
• Square shaped stems
• Opposite lance shaped leaves
• Flowers have ten stamens

Height

0.15 to 0.45m

Spread

0.3 to 0.6m

Leaves

green, deciduous

Flowers

white, 2 to 3cm

Problems to watch for

• AphidsCommon
• Powdery MildewCommon
• Leaf SpotUncommon
• Slugs and SnailsUncommon

Growing it

Propagation

division, seed

When to plant

spring, autumn

Overwintering

The plant dies back to the ground in winter, so simply clear away dead debris in early spring before new growth emerges.

In containers

It is not well suited for containers as it prefers the stability of garden soil.

Plant in groups with other spring ephemerals to create a naturalistic woodland floor effect.

Grows well with

• Bluebell · They share the same woodland habitat and bloom at the same time.
• Wood Anemone · These provide a beautiful contrast in flower shape and timing.

Similar species

• Lesser Stitchwort · It is a smaller relative with similar white flowers.

Science

Family

Caryophyllaceae

Genus

Rabelera

Order

Caryophyllales

Class

Magnoliopsida

Native range

Europe and western Asia.

Conservation

It is common throughout its range and not of conservation concern.

It thrives in the dappled light of deciduous woodlands where it benefits from early spring sun before the canopy closes.

Value to wildlife

nectar source

Pollinators

bees, butterflies

Uses

woodland gardens, ground cover, wildlife borders

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is it invasive?

It spreads readily in ideal conditions but is generally considered a well-behaved native.

Does it need full sun?

It prefers partial shade and will struggle in intense, direct sun.

Where the name comes from

The genus name Rabelera honors the botanist Rabeler, while the specific epithet holostea comes from Greek meaning entirely bony, likely referring to the brittle stems.

Good to know

• The name stitchwort comes from an old folk belief that the plant could cure a stitch in the side.
• The flowers are known for their distinct five petals that are so deeply cleft they look like ten.
• It spreads via underground rhizomes to form lovely carpets in shady spots.
• The seed capsules explode when ripe to scatter seeds away from the parent plant.

Also in

• Plants for shade