virginia stickseed
ExplorePlants
virginia stickseed
Hackelia virginiana
Virginia stickseed is a lovely little plant with bright blue flowers. It grows in fields and along roadsides, making the world a bit more colorful!
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The virginia stickseed has a tall, hairy stem with rough, lance-shaped leaves. Its tiny, pale blue to white flowers are clustered loosely along the upper stem. After flowering, small, round, intensely sticky burs develop, making it distinctive and hard to miss when they attach to clothing.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderBoraginalesFamilyBoraginaceaeGenusHackelia
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Its super-sticky seeds inspired its name, because they 'stick' to anything!
One plant can produce hundreds of these tiny, hook-covered 'hitchhiker' seeds!
The plant's scientific name, Hackelia, honors an Austrian botanist named Joseph Hackel.
Though tiny, its flowers provide nectar for small bees and pollinating flies!
Special abilities
Ability
Hitchhiker Seeds
Virginia stickseed has small, barbed seeds that easily cling to fur or clothing, helping it travel far and wide.
Ability
Opportunistic Growth
It can thrive in disturbed soil and open woodlands, allowing it to quickly colonize new areas where other plants struggle.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 30-150 cm
- Spread
- 15-30 cm
- Flower Size
- 0.3-0.5 cm
- Bloom Season
- Late spring to late summer
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Biennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
honey bee
Apis mellifera
Feeds on nectar, aids pollination
pollinates
common eastern bumblebee
Bombus impatiens
Visits flowers for nectar
symbiotic with
white-tailed deer
Odocoileus virginianus
Seeds stick to fur, aiding dispersal
Traits
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Spring Blooming
Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
Medicinal
Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always look but don't touch plants without asking an adult first.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is virginia stickseed?
30-150 cm
How wide does virginia stickseed spread?
15-30 cm
How big are the flowers on virginia stickseed?
0.3-0.5 cm
When does virginia stickseed bloom?
Late spring to late summer
Is virginia stickseed edible?
No
Is virginia stickseed toxic?
None
What is virginia stickseed's lifecycle?
Biennial
How is virginia stickseed pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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