Stellaria graminea
Common starwort, Common Starwort
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Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Stellaria graminea (Common starwort) is a non-native California herb in the Caryophyllaceae family, recognized by many-flowered inflorescence, petals longer than sepals, non-native status.
Common starwort is a naturalized perennial herb found in central Sierra Nevada, San Joaquin Valley, San Francisco Bay Area, and Southern California Coast in disturbed areas at elevations from sea level to 1,220 meters. Flowering from late spring to early summer, this plant produces small white flowers with delicate petals about 1 to 1.4 times the length of its sepals. Growing with sprawling to erect stems 10 to 60 centimeters tall, it spreads with a white rhizome and generally glabrous stems. Its leaves are linear to lanceolate, 10 to 35 millimeters long, with slightly ciliate margins near the base and a shiny, flat appearance. The plant produces dark brown seeds with prominent elongate tubercles, characteristic of its distinctive growth pattern.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 9 sympatric species; key features are many-flowered inflorescence, petals longer than sepals, non-native status
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas
Elevation: < 400, and 1220 m
Outside California: to British Columbia, Montana, eastern North America, native to Europe
Bloom period
Stellaria graminea blooms Late spring-early summer.
How to tell it apart
vs Cerastium: Stellaria has smooth to lightly hairy leaves; Cerastium is densely hairy and grayish-fuzzy throughout.; vs Parietaria: Stellaria has white flowers with visible petals; Parietaria has tiny greenish flowers hidden in leaf clusters.; vs Euphorbia: Stellaria has separate white flowers; Euphorbia has cup-like cyathia with milky sap when stems break.; vs Claytonia: Stellaria has deeply split petals creating star shape; Claytonia has unlobed rounded petals.; vs Polycarpon: Stellaria has stalkless pointed leaves; Polycarpon has spoon-shaped leaves with obvious stalks.
Frequently asked questions
Is Stellaria graminea native to California?
No. Stellaria graminea is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Stellaria graminea bloom?
Stellaria graminea blooms Late spring-early summer.
What plant family does Stellaria graminea belong to?
Stellaria graminea is in the Caryophyllaceae family, genus Stellaria.
What habitat does Stellaria graminea grow in?
Stellaria graminea grows in Disturbed areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.