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Hairy Forked Nailwort

Paronychia fastigiata

Last reviewed: August 2026

Hairy Forked Nailwort (Paronychia fastigiata)
Photo: Alex Abair / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

Toxicity unknown

Hairy Forked Nailwort (Paronychia fastigiata) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

full sun

Water

low

Size

2"–8" H × 2"–6" W

Bloom

May, Jun, Jul, Aug

Native to

AL, AR, CT, DE and 27 more states

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

Find rebates in your area

Browse plants for this ecoregion

South Central PlainsEastern Temperate ForestsOzark HighlandsCentral Irregular PlainsPiedmontNorth Central Hardwood ForestsDriftless AreaEastern Corn Belt PlainsNortheastern HighlandsNortheastern Coastal ZoneNorthern ForestsMiddle Atlantic Coastal PlainNorthern PiedmontSoutheastern PlainsBlue RidgeRidge and ValleyCentral AppalachiansWestern Allegheny PlateauInterior PlateauInterior River Valleys and HillsMississippi Alluvial PlainMississippi Valley Loess PlainsAtlantic Coastal Pine Barrens

Hairy forked nailwort is a tiny native annual that forms low, compact mats of small leaves close to the ground. It produces inconspicuous clusters of small whitish flowers from late spring through summer. This diminutive plant is drought-tolerant and thrives in sunny, dry locations with poor soil.

In an HOA neighborhood

Hairy Forked Nailwort takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

  • Very small and inconspicuous appearance may look weedy
  • Annual nature means gaps and bare spots as plants die
  • Name and appearance unlikely to be recognized as intentional landscaping

Wildlife value

This plant provides habitat for small beneficial insects and may serve as food for some native ground-dwelling arthropods, though specific pollinator relationships are not well documented.

Common questions

How much sun does Hairy Forked Nailwort need?
Hairy Forked Nailwort grows best in full sun conditions.
When does Hairy Forked Nailwort bloom?
Hairy Forked Nailwort blooms in May, June, July, and August.
Where is Hairy Forked Nailwort native?
Hairy Forked Nailwort (Paronychia fastigiata) is native to AL, AR, CT, DE and 27 more states, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
Is Hairy Forked Nailwort HOA-friendly?
Hairy Forked Nailwort takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

See all plant problem guides

Ready to grow Hairy Forked Nailwort? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

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