# Old World Diamond Flower (*Oldenlandia corymbosa*) The Old World Diamond Flower is a pretty plant with small, star-shaped flowers. It loves to grow in warm places and can be found in gardens and fields, adding beauty to the landscape. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![Old World Diamond Flower](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Mille_Graines._Flattop_%281001297322%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Jason Hollinger, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mille_Graines._Flattop_%281001297322%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Old World Diamond Flower has delicate, branched stems that often creep along the ground. It features tiny, star-like white or pale pink flowers, each with four petals, emerging from the leaf axils. Its narrow, lance-shaped leaves are arranged oppositely along its slender green stems, giving it a subtle, carpet-like appearance. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Gentianales - **Family:** Rubiaceae - **Genus:** Oldenlandia ## Interesting facts - Even though it's small, it's super tough and grows in poor soil! - It's a plant explorer, found on almost every continent! - Its scientific name 'corymbosa' means its flowers form neat clusters! - This tiny plant has been used in traditional remedies for ages! ## Special abilities - **Rapid Ground Cover:** Old World Diamond Flower can quickly spread and colonize disturbed areas, outcompeting other plants to establish itself. - **Tiny Seed Power:** This plant produces numerous microscopic seeds that are easily dispersed by wind or water, helping it spread far and wide. - **Year-Round Bloomer:** Old World Diamond Flower has tiny flowers that can bloom almost all year in warm climates, ensuring constant opportunities for pollination. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 5-30 cm - **Spread:** 10-40 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Year-round - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Annual - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Gathers nectar from its small blossoms. - **Eats:** Oriental Leafworm Moth (*Spodoptera litura*) — Caterpillars may feed on the leaves. - **Eaten by:** Giant African Land Snail (*Achatina fulica*) — Sometimes grazes on its delicate foliage. ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Cluster Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cluster-flower): Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem. - [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. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [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. - [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. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always ask an adult before touching or picking flowers. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Old World Diamond Flower? 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 Old World Diamond Flower? 5-30 cm ### How wide does Old World Diamond Flower spread? 10-40 cm ### How big are the flowers on Old World Diamond Flower? 0.2-0.5 cm ### When does Old World Diamond Flower bloom? Year-round ### Is Old World Diamond Flower edible? No ### Is Old World Diamond Flower toxic? None ### What is Old World Diamond Flower's lifecycle? Annual ## 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: [Old World Diamond Flower: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/old-world-diamond-flower)