Greater stitchwort Stellaria holostea
Table of Contents
Greater stitchwort is a wildflower of the Springtime. It’s pretty, star shaped white flowers can be seen in woodland, hedgerows and other partially shaded environments. Other names for this plant include ‘starflower’ and ‘wedding cakes’.
Plant family: Caryophyllaceae
Aliases: Star flower, adder’s meat, moonflower, popguns, wedding cakes
Flowering period: April – June
Flower colour: White
Preferred soil type: Most types, moist, well drained
Habitat: Woodland, hedgerows, roadside verges
Status: Common
General information
A sprawling, early flowering perennial wildflower, with many different names. It’s sometimes referred to as ‘popguns’ as greater stitchwort has a seed dispersal mechanism. Once the seed is ripe, usually during the early summer and the plant is disturbed, the seed explodes into the air making a popping sound.
Greater stitchwort has a rather unusual character in that it flowers from the top -down instead of, from the bottom -ups (as with most plants). There is some folklore and mythology surrounding stitchwort, some believe picking it will cause thunderstorms, while in certain parts of the country it will get you in trouble with elves and pixies.
It usually grows in partially-shaded grassy places, especially woodland to a height of up to 60 cm. It’s often seen growing amongst bluebells and wood anemone as they bloom at the time and thrive in very similar habitats. Lesser stitchwort is very similar to this plant and they’re sometimes confused with each other. However the flowers on lesser stitchwort are less than half the size of greater stitchwort.
Identification
Flowers: The white flowers are borne on slender stalks and measure 20 – 30mm in diameter, with each flower having 5 petals. However, as they are deeply cut, they often give the appearance of having 10 petals.
Leaves: The leaves are narrow, stalk-less and ‘grass like’.
Value for wildlife
Greater stitchwort is a source of pollen and nectar and attracts many pollinating insects, including bees, wasps and hoverflies. It’s also a great favourite of butterflies and moths. See infographic below:
Uses for greater stitchwort
This plant has various medicinal properties. The leaves have anti-inflammatory properties and ointment can be made from them to treat eczema, insect bites and skin rashes. It’s also alleged that it can be used to cure a ‘stitch’ (the pain you get in the side of your stomach caused by running or vigorous exercise).
Greater stitchwort can also be eaten, as it has a lettuce like taste and can been used in salads. It is very nutritious, containing many important vitamins.
Greater stitchwort images
Click to enlarge
Greater Stitchwort: Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called “Stitchwort”?
The name comes from old herbal medicine. Folk tradition held that the plant could be used as a remedy to cure a “stitch”—the sharp, sudden pain in the side that runners or walkers get when exercising without stretching properly.
What are some of its other common names?
Star-of-Bethlehem (referring to its bright, star-like blooms)
Wedding Cakes or Daddy’s Shirt-Buttons / Poor Man’s Buttonhole (historically used in decorative buttonholes)
Snapdragon, Poppers, or Popguns (referring to its brittle stems or the way its seed pods burst open)
Why do people call it a “popping” plant?
In late spring and early summer, as the flowers fade and the seed capsules ripen under the sun, internal tension builds up until the pods burst open explosively to fling their seeds away. On a warm, quiet day in June, you can actually hear them popping in the undergrowth!
What kind of folklore is associated with it?
Rural folklore treated Stitchwort with a bit of caution:
Fairies: It was considered a fairy flower; picking it risked bringing unwanted attention or getting “pixie-led” (lost).
Thunderstorms: In some regions, old country superstition warned that picking Greater Stitchwort would summon a thunderstorm (earning it the occasional regional nickname “Thunderbolts”).
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
You are free to use, share and adapt any of the images on this page, under the condition we receive a followed backlink to our website https://diversegardens.co.uk as the image source.
