Virginia Stickseed
Hackelia virginiana
Also listed as Lappula virginiana, Myosotis virginiana
Also known as Stickseed, Beggar's Lice, Sticktight
Climate Match for your location
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Virginia stickseed is a native wildflower with delicate blue or white flowers followed by seed pods covered in barbed bristles that cling to clothing and animal fur. It thrives in open woodlands and meadows with moderate moisture.
Why grow it
Virginia stickseed fills a niche in native plant communities where you need a shade-tolerant wildflower for moist woodland edges and partially open areas. Unlike many ornamental forget-me-nots and related species, this plant establishes readily from seed in disturbed woodland soils without requiring special treatment, making it practical for habitat restoration. Its barbed seeds disperse naturally via animal vectors, reducing maintenance compared to species that require manual deadheading or produce unwanted seedlings in cultivated beds.
Watch out for
The plant's prolific self-seeding and seed adhesion can make it persistent in garden settings if you don't want it to spread; deadhead spent flowers if containment is a priority. It prefers consistent moisture and may struggle in dry conditions or heavy clay soils without soil amendment, so site selection matters more than for some native wildflowers.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Boraginaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Virginia stickseed is a native wildflower with delicate blue or white flowers followed by seed pods covered in barbed bristles that cling to clothing and animal fur. It thrives in open woodlands and meadows with moderate moisture.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Virginia Stickseed grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Virginia stickseed fills a niche in native plant communities where you need a shade-tolerant wildflower for moist woodland edges and partially open areas. Unlike many ornamental forget-me-nots and related species, this plant establishes readily from seed in disturbed woodland soils without requiring special treatment, making it practical for habitat restoration. Its barbed seeds disperse naturally via animal vectors, reducing maintenance compared to species that require manual deadheading or produce unwanted seedlings in cultivated beds.
Watch out for
The plant's prolific self-seeding and seed adhesion can make it persistent in garden settings if you don't want it to spread; deadhead spent flowers if containment is a priority. It prefers consistent moisture and may struggle in dry conditions or heavy clay soils without soil amendment, so site selection matters more than for some native wildflowers.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Boraginaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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