Does it need full sun?

It prefers partial shade and consistently moist soil.

Can I grow it in a regular garden bed?

Only if you can keep the soil very wet, as it struggles in dry conditions.

Plant guide

Bog stitchwort.

Stellaria alsine

Pronounced stel-LAIR-ee-uh al-SY-nee

Also known as Bog Stitchwort, Bog chickweed, bog starwort

Bog Stitchwort — Photo by Thomas Dreux (CC BY) via iNaturalist

This charming little plant loves to hang out in damp, marshy spots. It spreads low across the ground, creating a delicate carpet of greenery. You will often find it near streams or in wet meadows.

Another photo of bog stitchwort — Photo by Connor Sydney (Squid) (CC0) via gbif

At a glance

Care level: Moderate
Plant type: herbaceous perennial
Light: partial shade to full sun
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 2 to 4 days
Mature size: 10 to 20 centimeters
Growth rate: Medium
Hardiness: USDA 4 to 9
Bloom time: Late spring to mid summer

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist to mimic its natural boggy home. Watch for wilting if the ground dries out too much. It prefers cooler temperatures and does not like to bake in intense heat.

Watering: Always keep the soil damp to the touch.
Feeding: Use a balanced liquid fertilizer sparingly during the growing season.
Pruning: Trim back leggy stems to encourage a bushier shape.
Repotting: Refresh the soil every year or two to keep it happy.
Soil: moist, rich, organic soil
Soil pH: acidic to neutral
Temperature: -15 to 25°C
Humidity: 60 to 90%
Drought tolerance: Low
Lifespan: Short lived perennial
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes
Stunted growth during the active season

Safety

People: There are no significant reports of human toxicity, but it is not typically consumed.
Children: The plant is not dangerous, but children should be discouraged from eating wild plants.
Contact allergens: The stems can be slightly sticky or rough, but they rarely cause skin irritation.
Airborne allergens: The pollen is not considered a significant allergen.
Edibility: While often considered edible in small quantities, it is easily confused with toxic lookalikes and should be avoided.

How to identify it

lance shaped opposite leaves
tiny white five petaled flowers
weak sprawling stems
smooth hairless foliage

Height: 0.05 to 0.3m
Spread: 0.15 to 0.6m
Leaves: green, deciduous
Flowers: white, 0.5 to 0.8cm
Fruit: brown, Late summer

Problems to watch for

Aphids · Small insects that may cluster on the tender new growth.

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed, division
When to plant: spring, autumn
Overwintering: The plant may die back to the ground in cold climates. It will regrow from the roots or self sown seeds in the spring.
In containers: It grows well in containers if kept in a self watering pot or a tray of water.

Division

1. Carefully lift a clump of the plant in spring.
2. Gently pull the root mass apart into smaller sections.
3. Replant immediately into wet soil.

Group this plant with other moisture lovers to create a lush, boggy aesthetic in your garden.

Grows well with

Marsh Marigold · They both thrive in the same wet, boggy soil conditions.
Water Mint · This plant enjoys the same high moisture levels as the stitchwort.

Similar species

Common Chickweed · It looks very similar but prefers drier, disturbed soil.

Science

Family: Caryophyllaceae
Genus: Stellaria
Order: Caryophyllales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Europe, parts of Asia, and North America.
Conservation: It is common throughout its range and is not of conservation concern.

It survives by colonizing damp, shaded areas where other plants might struggle with excess moisture.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees, beetles
Uses: ground cover, bog garden plant

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 5/9
Light: 4/9
Temperature: 4/9
Moisture: 8/9
Nutrients: 5/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Does it need full sun?: It prefers partial shade and consistently moist soil.
Can I grow it in a regular garden bed?: Only if you can keep the soil very wet, as it struggles in dry conditions.

Where the name comes from

Stellaria comes from the Latin word for star, referring to the shape of the flowers. Alsine is an ancient Greek name for a plant that grows in groves.

Good to know

It is commonly known as bog stitchwort.
The stems are brittle and break easily.
It thrives in places where water pools on the ground.

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This guide was generated with AI on October 19, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.