Is this plant invasive?

It can spread quickly in ideal conditions, but it is generally considered a native wildflower rather than an aggressive weed.

Does it need full sun?

It prefers full sun to partial shade.

Plant guide

Lesser stitchwort.

Stellaria graminea

Pronounced stel-LAIR-ee-uh gram-IN-ee-uh

Also known as Common Stitchwort, Grass-leaf Starwort, Grass-leaf Stitchwort, Grass-like Starwort, Grassleaved Stichwort, Grassy Starwort, Lesser Starwort, Lesser Stitchwort

Stellaria graminea — Photo by Peter de Lange (CC BY) via gbif

Lesser stitchwort is a delicate, sprawling perennial that adds a lovely touch to meadows and grassy areas. It is known for its slender, grass like leaves and tiny, star shaped white flowers. You will often find it weaving through other plants in sunny, open habitats.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Perennial herb
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 3 to 7 days
Mature size: 12 to 24 inches
Growth rate: Medium
Hardiness: USDA 3 to 9
Bloom time: Late spring to mid summer

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged to mimic its natural meadow home. Watch for wilting during dry spells, as this plant prefers steady moisture. It is quite hardy and generally thrives without much fuss in garden beds.

Watering: Keep the soil evenly damp to the touch.
Feeding: A light application of balanced fertilizer in spring is plenty.
Pruning: Trim back after flowering to encourage a tidy appearance.
Repotting: Repot only if the plant becomes root bound or needs fresh soil.
Soil: Moist, well drained soil
Soil pH: Neutral to slightly acidic
Temperature: -25 to 30°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Lifespan: Short lived perennial, typically 2 to 4 years.
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Safety

People: The plant contains saponins which can cause mild digestive irritation if ingested in large quantities.
Children: Keep away from young children as the stems are fragile and the plant is not intended for consumption.
Contact allergens: The stems can be slightly rough or sticky, which may cause minor skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: The pollen is generally not considered a major allergen.
Edibility: While not highly toxic, it is not considered a culinary herb and should be avoided to prevent gastrointestinal upset.

How to identify it

Slender, grass like opposite leaves
Tiny white flowers with deeply cleft petals
Sprawling, weak stems
Small, star shaped blooms

Height: 0.1 to 0.5m
Spread: 0.2 to 0.6m
Leaves: green, deciduous
Flowers: white, 0.5 to 1cm

Problems to watch for

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

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

Check your lesser stitchwort from a photo

Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your plant and tells you what's wrong and what to try first.

Growing it

Propagation: seed, division
When to plant: spring, autumn
Overwintering: The plant dies back to the ground in winter. No special protection is needed as it is quite hardy.
In containers: It is not typically grown in containers as it prefers to sprawl in open ground.

Seed

1. Collect seeds in late summer.
2. Sow directly into moist soil in autumn.
3. Keep the area weeded until established.

Division

1. Dig up a clump in spring.
2. Gently pull the roots apart.
3. Replant immediately in a new spot.

Plant this in a meadow mix where it can weave through taller grasses for structural support.

Grows well with

Red Clover · They share similar meadow habitats and bloom times.
Oxeye Daisy · They provide a classic wildflower meadow aesthetic.

Similar species

Greater Stitchwort · It has larger flowers and is more common in woodland settings.

Science

Family: Caryophyllaceae
Genus: Stellaria
Order: Caryophyllales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Europe and parts of temperate Asia.
Conservation: It is a common and widespread species with no special conservation status.

It survives by sprawling across the ground or climbing through other plants to reach sunlight in open meadows and woodland edges.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: ground cover, wildflower meadow, pollinator garden

Through the year

JFMAMJJASOND

Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 5/9
Light: 6/9
Temperature: 5/9
Moisture: 5/9
Nutrients: 4/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is this plant invasive?: It can spread quickly in ideal conditions, but it is generally considered a native wildflower rather than an aggressive weed.
Does it need full sun?: It prefers full sun to partial shade.

Where the name comes from

Stellaria comes from the Latin word stella, meaning star, referring to the star shaped flowers. Graminea refers to the grass like appearance of the leaves.

Good to know

It is a member of the Caryophyllaceae family, just like carnations.
The flowers have five petals that are so deeply cleft they often look like ten.
It thrives in disturbed soils and is frequently found along roadsides.
The plant is quite delicate and often leans on surrounding vegetation for support.

Keep your lesser stitchwort growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

Get the app

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.