Stellaria holostea (Greater stitchwort) — Backlit, Pliezhausen, Germany, 2020

HA-0062 · Backlit, Pliezhausen, Germany, 05/2020, Julian Auch

Stellaria holostea (Greater stitchwort) — detail, Backlit, Pliezhausen, Germany, 2020

Backlit, Detail, Pliezhausen, Germany, 05/2020, Julian Auch

Stellaria holostea (Greater stitchwort) — Backlit, Stuttgart, Germany, 2022

HA-0109 · Backlit, Stuttgart, Germany, 04/2022, Julian Auch

Stellaria holostea (Greater stitchwort) — detail, Backlit, Stuttgart, Germany, 2022

Backlit, Detail, Stuttgart, Germany, 04/2022, Julian Auch

Stellaria holostea (Greater stitchwort) — Photograph, Eisenach, Germany, 2026

HA-0245 · Photograph, Eisenach, Germany, 04/2026, Julian Auch

HA-0246 · Photograph, Eisenach, Germany, 04/2026, Julian Auch

Greater stitchwortStellaria holostea

Stellaria holostea, commonly known as greater stitchwort, is a perennial wildflower native to Europe and western Asia. It is recognized by its star-shaped white flowers, whose deeply divided petals create the illusion of ten petals instead of five, and by its slender, brittle stems. The name “stitchwort” comes from a traditional belief that the plant could relieve the sharp pain of a side stitch, although there is no scientific evidence for this use. Blooming in spring, it is a familiar sight along woodland edges and hedgerows, where its bright flowers bring light to the forest floor before the tree canopy fully develops.

Scientific Name

Stellaria holostea

Family

Caryophyllaceae

Order

Caryophyllales

Lifespan

Perennial

Blossom Color

White

Blossom Symmetry

Radial