Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Stellaria longifolia is a species of flowering plant in the pink family known by the common name longleaf starwort. It is native to much of the northern half of the Northern Hemisphere, occurring throughout northern Europe and North America. It grows in many types of moist habitat, including meadows, marshes, and roadsides. It is a rhizomatous perennial herb forming clumps with sprawling, branching stems which are mostly hairless except for tiny rough hairs along the edges of the squarish stem. The linear to lance-shaped leaves are up to 3. 5 centimeters long and are oppositely arranged in pairs. The inflorescence bears several flowers, each on a short pedicel. The flower has five pointed green sepals each a few millimeters long. There are five white petals, each so deeply lobed it appears to be two.

Plant type

Perennial herb

Size

2 ft Tall

Form

Mounding

Growth rate

Moderate

Calscape icon
Color

Green, White

Flowering season

Spring

Soil description

Prefers loamy or clay soils. Grows poorly in sandy soils.

Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 5 likely

Confirmed Likely

Elegant Sheepmoth

Hemileuca eglanterina

California Tiger Moth

Leptarctia californiae

Dainty Sulphur

Nathalis iole