About
Cerastium fontanum is a short-lived perennial that forms a dense mat close to the ground. It features opposite leaves that are hairy and curved. From April through November, this plant yields clusters of small white flowers, each with distinctly lobed petals.
About the genus
Cerastium includes both annual species and perennial forms that grow in mats. The leaves are simple, and the plants produce white flowers with five petals arranged in a star shape.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Sand, Loam
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- East-facing, North-facing, South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H6
Plant details
- Plant type
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit
- Matforming, Spreading branched
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Spread
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 1 year
- Suggested uses
- Wildflower meadow
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Will tolerate a range of soil conditions and does well on poor soil. Self-seeds prolifically and is often considered a weed
- Pruning
- No pruning required, remove before seeds develop if seeding is not desired
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free