Stenanthium gramineum , or feather bells, is an herbaceous perennial wildflower in the trillium family (Melanthiaceaea). The plant displays small white flowers in a large cluster from June through September. It is native to the southeastern United States and often found in open, rocky woods, wet meadows, pond edges, and sandy bogs. The fragrant flowers attract bees and the foliage is regularly seen as ornamental. The epithet means "grassy." Feather Bells tolerates average soil, but performs best in slightly acidic, well-drained soil, rich in organic material. Except for deep shade, it can be grown under any light condition; however, the best flower performance occurs in full sun with supplemental watering to keep the soil consistently moist. It enjoys a long blooming period of 6 weeks, or more, beginning mid to late summer and possibly extending until frost. Mature clumps can be divided while dormant or in early spring, but it is best propagated from seed. Although naturalizing, this is not an aggressive species. Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems: No known diseases or problems.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasional Flooding | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Long, narrow, grasslike leaves are folded lengthwise, most numerous near the base. Along the stem there are one leaf per node. Basal leaves grow at the plant's base. They are linear and have a corrugated look.
Flower color
Brown/Copper; Green; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Panicle; Raceme
Flower shape
Bell; Cup; Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
A large, narrow, pyramidal panicle of small, white to green, nodding flowers on branches cluster up to 2 feet long. Each flower has three pointed petals and three sepals (longer than their width). Flowers on lateral branches are mostly staminate. Flowers bloom from June to September.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Fruit displays from August to October. Each capsule will contain 2 or more seeds.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
The stem rises from a basal rosette of folded, grass-like leaves and supports a panicle of white flowers. It is coated by dense parallel fibers that are formed by decaying remains of the prior year's leaf base. Remains unbranched below the inflorescence.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Central & Eastern U.S.A
Distribution
AL, AR, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MD, MI, MS, NC, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV