# Field madder (*Sherardia arvensis*) Field madder is a small, pretty plant that grows in fields and meadows. It has tiny, star-shaped flowers that can be pink or white, and it loves sunny places! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 19 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Field madder](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/72_Sherardia_arvensis.jpg&width=800) Photo: Carl Axel Magnus Lindman, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:72_Sherardia_arvensis.jpg) ## Appearance The Field madder is a low-growing plant with square stems and tiny, pale lilac to pink, four-petaled flowers often clustered at the stem tips. Its leaves are small, narrow, and arranged in whorls around the stem, giving it a somewhat prickly appearance compared to softer groundcovers. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Gentianales - **Family:** Rubiaceae - **Genus:** Sherardia ## Interesting facts - Each little flower produces bristly seeds that stick to animal fur for travel. - Its scientific name, Sherardia, honors an English botanist, James Sherard. - Some say its root used to make a red dye, like its larger madder relatives. - This tiny plant is part of the coffee family, though it doesn't make coffee! ## Special abilities - **Ground Hugger:** Field madder can grow close to the ground, allowing it to survive being trodden on and outcompete taller plants for light. - **Endless Bloomer:** Field madder has a long blooming season, helping it produce many seeds and increase its chances of successful reproduction. - **Soil Surfer:** Field madder can thrive in many soil types, which helps it colonize diverse environments and expand its range. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 5-40 cm - **Spread:** 10-50 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.4 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Annual - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits its small flowers for nectar and pollen. - **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — Helps transfer pollen between Field madder flowers. - **Eaten by:** [Garden snail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-snail) (*Helix aspersa*) — Feeds on the leaves and tender shoots of the plant. - **Eaten by:** Green peach aphid (*Myzus persicae*) — Sucks sap from the stems and leaves, affecting growth. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't pick plants unless you have permission from an adult. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Field madder? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Field madder? 5-40 cm ### How wide does Field madder spread? 10-50 cm ### How big are the flowers on Field madder? 0.2-0.4 cm ### When does Field madder bloom? Late spring to early fall ### Is Field madder edible? Yes ### Is Field madder toxic? None ### What is Field madder's lifecycle? Annual ## Where to spot - [Americus Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/americus-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [East Wetumpka Commercial Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/east-wetumpka-commercial-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Haskell-Baker Wetlands](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/haskell-baker-wetlands) — Kansas, US · Nature Reserve - [Kentucky Horse Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kentucky-horse-park) — Kentucky, US · Nature Reserve - [Market Square](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/market-square) — Tennessee, US · Historic District - [Dickerson Park Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/dickerson-park-zoo) — Missouri, US · Zoo [View all places to see Field madder](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/field-madder) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Field madder: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/field-madder)