Trientalis borealis Rafinesque. Common name: Northern Starflower, Maystar, Star-of-Seven. Phenology: May-Jun. Habitat: Northern hardwood forests, rich slope forests, often in second-growth areas. Distribution: This northern species, widespread in the mountains of VA, and known from a few locations in n. GA and ne. TN (Chester, Wofford, & Kral 1997), was first located in NC only in 1988 (Dellinger 1989).
ID notes: "The attractive white corollas, usually with 7 petals united only at the very base, are open in the late spring and they drop intact – like fallen stars" (Voss 1996). This species can be recognized by its terminal whorl of leaves (4-10 cm long), the one to several white flowers borne on terminal, slender pedicels, each flower typically with 7 petals (inconspicuously united at the bases), each petal acuminate.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Synonymy ⓘ: = FNA8, Mi, Va; = Lysimachia borealis (Raf.) U.Manns & Anderb. — Can, K4, NE, NY, Manns & Anderberg (2009); = n/a — RAB; = Trientalis borealis Raf. ssp. borealis; < Trientalis borealis Raf. — C, F, G, Il, Pa, Tat, Tn, W, WV. Basionym: Trientalis borealis Raf. 1808
Links to other floras: = Trientalis borealis - FNA8
Show parent genus | Show parent in key(s)
Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC
- Great Plains: FAC
- Midwest: FAC
- Northcentral & Northeast: FAC
Heliophily ⓘ: 3
Hover over a shape, letter, icon, or arrow on the map for definition or see the legend.





Feedback
See something wrong or missing on about Trientalis borealis? Let us know here: (Please include your name and email if at all complicated so we can clarify if needed.) We greatly appreciate feedback, and will include updates from you in our next webapp update, which can take a few months. If a species is not keyed, that's because keying is ongoing. Please don't send us feedback about unkeyed species.
Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect perennial from a slender, creeping rhizome, found in northern hardwood forests and rich slope forests, often in second-growth areas.
Stems: Stems unbranched, smooth.
Leaves: Leaves 5-10 in a single whorl at top of stem, short-petiolate or sessile, lance-shaped, unequal, 1 1/2-4 in. long, minutely wavy-edged, glossy; 1-2 small, scale-like leaves may be alternate on mid-stem.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers usually 1--2 on slender stalks from center of leaf whorl, white, ¼--½ in. wide, consisting of 7 spreading, oval to lance-shaped, pointy-tipped petals and 7 stamens.
Fruits: Fruit a rounded capsule.
Comments:
Height: 3-10 in.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect perennial from a slender, creeping rhizome, found in northern hardwood forests and rich slope forests, often in second-growth areas.
stems: Stems unbranched, smooth.
leaves: Leaves 5-10 in a single whorl at top of stem, short-petiolate or sessile, lance-shaped, unequal, 1 1/2-4 in. long, minutely wavy-edged, glossy; 1-2 small, scale-like leaves may be alternate on mid-stem.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers usually 1--2 on slender stalks from center of leaf whorl, white, ¼--½ in. wide, consisting of 7 spreading, oval to lance-shaped, pointy-tipped petals and 7 stamens.
fruits: Fruit a rounded capsule.
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range:
0 unsaved edits on this page.