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Hackelia virginiana

Virginia stickseed

Boraginaceae Eastern and central North America

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant

Native to North America

SunPart Shade – Full Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 3–8

Overview

Hackelia virginiana is an upright biennial or short-lived perennial reaching 2-4 feet (60-120 cm) tall, forming a basal rosette in the first year and a branched flowering stem in the second. The lower leaves are oval to elliptic, 4-8 inches (10-20 cm) long, on long stalks, while upper stem leaves are smaller and stalkless; all are softly hairy and dull green. From July through September the branches carry loose, widely spaced sprays of tiny white to pale blue flowers about 0.1 inch (2-3 mm) across. Each flower gives way to four small nutlets covered in hooked prickles that cling to clothing, fur, and feathers, scattering the seed. The plant grows from a taproot and reproduces only by seed. After fruiting the plant dies, leaving dry, bur-bearing stems. It grows in shaded, disturbed ground and spreads where animals or people carry the clinging seeds.

Native Range

Native to eastern and central North America, from Quebec and Ontario south to Florida and west to the Great Plains. Grows in moist to dry woods, woodland edges, thickets, clearings, and shaded disturbed ground.

Suggested Uses

Grown mainly in native and woodland plantings and naturalized shade areas rather than ornamental beds. Its clinging burs make it suited to wild margins away from paths, pets, and livestock. The flowers and seeds support small native insects and birds in woodland habitats.

How to Identify

Recognized by widely branched stems bearing loose sprays of tiny white to pale blue flowers and, later, small four-parted nutlets covered in hooked prickles that cling to fabric and fur. The soft-hairy oval lower leaves reach 4-8 inches (10-20 cm) long. The open, spreading flower branches separate it from the denser clusters of related Hackelia spp. species.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2' - 4'

Width/Spread1' - 2'

Colors

Flower Colors

white

blue

Foliage Colors

green

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~8 weeks

Summer Fall

Blooms from July through September. The tiny flowers open a few at a time along widely spaced branches over several weeks. Flowers are small and pale, opening in sequence. Burred nutlets ripen from late summer into fall.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

white to pale blue

Foliage Description

dull green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunPartial Shade SunFull Shade

Requires 2-6 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in part shade to shade in moist to average, well-drained soils of woods and edges. Water needs are low to moderate; the plant tolerates dry shade once established. No fertilizer is needed in woodland soil. It reseeds by clinging burs and can appear in new spots where animals or clothing carry the seed. Few pests or diseases affect it. As a biennial or short-lived plant, it relies on regular reseeding to persist.

Pruning

No pruning is needed. Bur-bearing stems can be cut and removed before the nutlets ripen to limit seed spread. Dead stems can be cleared after the plant dies back.

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Unknown