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Greater Stitchwort

Stellaria holostea

Months

Colour

A pretty white wildflower also known as ‘Star-of-Bethlehem’ and ‘Wedding Cakes’, this star shaped spring flower is often found in hedgerows and verges. One of its local names is ‘popguns’ as its seeds fire off noisily when ripe.

How to spot it

White flowers, 20-30mm across, with five petals divided half way and twice as long as the sepals. Leaves narrow, with rough edges, stalkless, in pairs, each pair at right angles to the next. It also has a square stem. (National Plant Monitoring Scheme Species ID Guide)

Where it grows

Hedgerows and deciduous woodland.

Best time to see

April to June.

How’s it doing?

Stable.

Close up of Greater Stitchwort

Did you know?

  • One of its local names is “popguns” as its seeds fire off noisily when ripe. It is also known as Poppers.
  • Other names (“Poor Man’s Buttonhole”, “Daddy’s Shirt Buttons”) suggest it was once used as a buttonhole.
  • Names such as Snapdragon and Snapcrackers refers to the ease with which the stalk breaks.
  • The name “Stitchwort” itself comes from the once-held belief it cured side-stitch caused by exercise.
Greater Stitchwort in green grass

Greater Stitchwort, image by L. Chmurova

Cowslips and Greater Stitchwort

Cowslips and Greater Stitchwort, image by Trevor Dines

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