# northern starflower (*Lysimachia borealis*) The northern starflower is a pretty little flower that blooms in the spring. Its star-shaped white flowers look like tiny stars shining in the forest! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 82 - **Habitat:** Forests ![northern starflower](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Lysimachia_borealis_-_Sandra_Keller_-_18688203.jpeg&width=800) Photo: Sandra Keller, CC BY 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lysimachia_borealis_-_Sandra_Keller_-_18688203.jpeg) ## Appearance The northern starflower is a small plant with slender stems reaching up to 20 cm tall. It has delicate white, star-shaped flowers with five petals, often blooming singly from its upper leaf axils. Its bright green leaves are typically oval and arranged in whorls. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Ericales - **Family:** Primulaceae - **Genus:** Lysimachia ## Interesting facts - Even though it's small, a patch of northern starflowers can carpet the forest floor! - Its scientific genus, Lysimachia, might be named after an ancient Greek king! - This tiny plant is sometimes called 'Maystar' because it often blooms in late spring. - You can often find them growing alongside mosses and ferns, sharing cool, damp ground. ## Special abilities - **Underground Network:** Northern starflower can spread using creeping underground stems, called rhizomes, which helps it form colonies and find new damp spots to grow. - **Shade Seeker:** Northern starflower has a special ability to thrive in deep shade, allowing it to grow in dark forest floors where other plants struggle. - **Tiny Star Beacon:** Northern starflower's small, bright white flowers are like tiny beacons that stand out in dimly lit undergrowth, attracting small insect pollinators. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 5-20 cm - **Spread:** 5-15 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.6-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to mid-summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Common Eastern Bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Gathers nectar and pollen from its flowers - **Pollinates:** Viereck's Sweat Bee (*Lasioglossum vierecki*) — Small native bee pollinates starflower ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [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. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't pick flowers. They are homes for many tiny creatures! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify northern starflower? 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 northern starflower? 5-20 cm ### How wide does northern starflower spread? 5-15 cm ### How big are the flowers on northern starflower? 0.6-1 cm ### When does northern starflower bloom? Late spring to mid-summer ### Is northern starflower edible? No ### Is northern starflower toxic? None ### What is northern starflower's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Canton Center Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/canton-center-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Carriage Paths, Bridges and Gatehouses](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/carriage-paths-bridges-and-gatehouses) — Maine, US · Historic District - [Chesham](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chesham) — New Hampshire, US · Historic District - [Chesterfield Gorge](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chesterfield-gorge) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve - [Copicut Woods](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/copicut-woods) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve - [Days Ferry Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/days-ferry-historic-district) — US · Historic District [View all places to see northern starflower](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/northern-starflower) ## 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: [Northern Starflower: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-starflower)