ExplorePlants

Common Whitlowgrass

Draba verna

Common Whitlowgrass is a small, cheerful plant that blooms with pretty yellow flowers in spring. It loves to grow in grassy places and can even pop up in your backyard!

Habitat: Grasslands

Appearance

The Common Whitlowgrass is a tiny annual plant with a basal rosette of narrow, hairy grey-green leaves. It produces very small, white, four-petaled flowers on leafless stems. These flowers often appear like a dusting of snow on the ground.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderBrassicalesFamilyBrassicaceaeGenusDraba
Common Whitlowgrass
flowering trait badgebiennial trait badgespring_blooming trait badgeedible trait badge
Common Whitlowgrass

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

Interesting facts

Each tiny flower has exactly four petals, perfectly arranged like a miniature white cross!

Its old name, 'whitlowgrass,' comes from a belief it could cure a finger infection!

This plant is one of the very first flowers to pop up, often when it's still cold outside!

You could fit several of its flowers on your pinky fingernail – they are incredibly small!

Special abilities

Ability

Speedy Sprouter

Common Whitlowgrass can sprout and flower incredibly fast in early spring, helping it complete its life cycle before larger plants take over.

Ability

Cold Conqueror

Common Whitlowgrass can tolerate chilly temperatures, which helps it be one of the very first plants to bloom in spring.

Ability

Seed Spreader

Common Whitlowgrass has tiny, lightweight seeds that are easily carried by wind or water, helping it spread to new places.

Measurements & details

Height
2-10 cm
Spread
5-15 cm
Flower Size
0.2-0.4 cm
Bloom Season
Early Spring
Edible
Yes
Toxicity
None
Lifecycle
Annual
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

Orange-tailed Mining Bee

Andrena haemorrhoa

Visits early spring flowers for nectar.

eats

Grey Field Slug

Deroceras reticulatum

Feeds on its small leaves and shoots.

symbiotic with

European Fire Ant

Myrmica rubra

Carries its seeds to new places to grow.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they are safe!

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is Common Whitlowgrass?

2-10 cm

How wide does Common Whitlowgrass spread?

5-15 cm

How big are the flowers on Common Whitlowgrass?

0.2-0.4 cm

When does Common Whitlowgrass bloom?

Early Spring

Is Common Whitlowgrass edible?

Yes

Is Common Whitlowgrass toxic?

None

What is Common Whitlowgrass's lifecycle?

Annual

How is Common Whitlowgrass pollinated?

Insect

Snap Map

Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.

Loading map…

Recent Snaps

Recent snaps will appear here as new observations are added.

More Plants