Lithospermum parviflorum

Product Info

Eastern Prairie Marbleseed (Lithospermum parviflorum)
Borage Family

This unusual wildflower is all about the texture. Gray-green leaves have deep veins and are covered with dense, fuzzy hairs. Young leaves are very soft, and turn coarser with age. The fuzzy texture makes them extremely unpalatable to deer. Flowers are white and star shaped, and very unobtrusive. Flowering stems slowly unfold and have a strong resemblance to unfurling fiddleheads on ferns. Bumblebees can been seen dangling upside down on the many flowers. This plant will grow in the toughest soil and thrive. Full sun-part sun is best. The interesting color and texture of the leaves make this  plant an excellent filler or backdrop around other, showier plants. Do not underestimate this unusual and hard to find plant--it currently sits as one of my favorite native plants.

Blooms: White, 6-8 weeks, May-July
Leaves: Gray-green, extremely fuzzy, stiff leaves
Height: 3-5'
Space: 2-3’
Soil: Avg-Dry
Exposure: Full sun to Part Sun
Fauna: Mostly bumblebees (pers. obs.)
Seeds: White, marble-like seeds turn a light gray when ready, typically stay up all through winter
Deer Resistance: High
Zone: 5-8?
Native Status: Eastern US
Provenance: Unknown, seed grown