# Soft-hair Marbleseed (*Lithospermum bejariense*)

The Soft-hair Marbleseed is a pretty plant with soft, fuzzy leaves. It grows small, round seeds that look like marbles! This plant loves sunny places and can be found in dry areas.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Desert

![Soft-hair Marbleseed](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Lithospermum_bejariense.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Mason Brock ( Masebrock ), Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lithospermum_bejariense.jpg)

## Appearance

The Soft-hair Marbleseed is a low-growing plant with numerous soft, fuzzy leaves that give it a grayish-green appearance. It produces small, star-shaped flowers that are typically creamy white or pale yellow. Its distinctive, hard, shiny seeds resemble tiny, smooth marbles.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Boraginales
- **Family:** Boraginaceae
- **Genus:** Lithospermum

## Interesting facts

- Its hard seeds were once used by Native Americans as tiny, natural beads for making jewelry!
- Some tiny ants help spread its hard seeds to new places, acting like little gardeners!
- The plant's scientific name, Lithospermum, literally means 'stone seed' because its seeds are so hard!
- This tough plant can live for many years, growing new stems each spring from its deep roots!

## Special abilities

- **Fuzzy Shield:** Soft-hair Marbleseed has tiny, soft hairs all over its leaves that help it survive in hot, dry places by reducing water loss.
- **Tough Seeds:** Soft-hair Marbleseed produces very hard, smooth, marble-like seeds that are protected and can last a long time before sprouting.
- **Deep Drinker:** Soft-hair Marbleseed can grow a long taproot deep into the soil to find water, helping it thrive in drier environments.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 10-40 cm
- **Spread:** 15-30 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Spring to summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — attracted to its small white flowers
- **Pollinates:** Common Eastern Bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — collects nectar from its blossoms
- **Eaten by:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — its foliage is occasionally browsed
- **Eaten by:** [Red Imported Fire Ant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-imported-fire-ant) (*Solenopsis invicta*) — ants disperse and consume its seeds

## Traits

- [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur.
- [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
- [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
- [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.
- [Desert](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/desert): Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

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

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Soft-hair Marbleseed?

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 Soft-hair Marbleseed?

10-40 cm

### How wide does Soft-hair Marbleseed spread?

15-30 cm

### How big are the flowers on Soft-hair Marbleseed?

0.5-1 cm

### When does Soft-hair Marbleseed bloom?

Spring to summer

### Is Soft-hair Marbleseed edible?

No

### Is Soft-hair Marbleseed toxic?

None

### What is Soft-hair Marbleseed's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Phil Hardberger Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/phil-hardberger-park) — Texas, US · Park

## 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*)

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Source: [Soft-hair Marbleseed: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/soft-hair-marbleseed)