Intro: Erect or ascending perennial of dry to mesic forests and rock outcrops.

Stems: Stems stiff, branched from the base, smooth to densely hairy.

Leaves: Leaves opposite on upper- and lower-most stem, mid-stem leaves in whorls of mostly 4; sessile to short petiolate; lance-shaped or oval; tapering to a sharp point; to 4 in. long; finely hairy beneath and smooth to rough above.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers in open panicles; white; 3/4-1 in.wide; consisting of 5 spreading petals that are deeply and unevenly divided into 8-12 segments, giving the flower a fringed appearance, and a slightly inflated, smooth to hairy, bell-shaped calyx tube with 5 triangular lobes.

Fruits: Fruit a rounded capsule.

Comments: The scentless flowers are often closed during the bright light of midday.

Height: 1-4 ft.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Erect or ascending perennial of dry to mesic forests and rock outcrops.

stems: Stems stiff, branched from the base, smooth to densely hairy.

leaves: Leaves opposite on upper- and lower-most stem, mid-stem leaves in whorls of mostly 4; sessile to short petiolate; lance-shaped or oval; tapering to a sharp point; to 4 in. long; finely hairy beneath and smooth to rough above.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers in open panicles; white; 3/4-1 in.wide; consisting of 5 spreading petals that are deeply and unevenly divided into 8-12 segments, giving the flower a fringed appearance, and a slightly inflated, smooth to hairy, bell-shaped calyx tube with 5 triangular lobes.

fruits: Fruit a rounded capsule.

comments: The scentless flowers are often closed during the bright light of midday.

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: eastern & central United States