Northern Starflower
Trientalis borealis
Last reviewed: August 2026
Trientalis borealis, known as starflower, produces delicate white star-shaped blooms in May and June on the floor of northeastern and midwestern woodlands. It grows best in part shade with steady, medium soil moisture.
Toxicity unknown
Northern Starflower (Trientalis borealis) 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
part shade
Water
medium
Size
3"–8" H × 2"–4" W
Bloom
May, Jun
Native to
AL, CT, DE, GA and 21 more states
Pollinators
bees, beetles
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 areaBrowse plants for this ecoregion
Starflower is a delicate woodland perennial that forms small patches of star-shaped white flowers above whorled leaves in late spring. This diminutive native plant thrives in shaded areas and naturalizes slowly through underground rhizomes. It goes completely dormant by midsummer, disappearing until the following spring.
Growing Northern Starflower
Grow Northern Starflower in part shade and medium water. Mature plants reach 3 to 8 inches tall and spread 2 to 4 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Northern Starflower 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 can appear sparse or insignificant
- May go dormant and disappear seasonally
- Looks more like a wildflower than cultivated plant
Wildlife value
The small white flowers attract native bees and beetles during its brief blooming period in May and June.
Common questions
- When does starflower bloom?
- Trientalis borealis typically flowers in May and June, producing small white star-shaped blooms above a whorl of leaves.
- What pollinates starflower?
- Bees and beetles visit the flowers of Trientalis borealis, though the plant can also spread vegetatively by underground rhizomes.
- What light conditions does starflower need?
- This woodland forb grows best in part shade, mimicking the dappled light found beneath deciduous forest canopies.
- How much water does starflower require?
- Starflower prefers medium, consistently moist soil similar to the humus-rich ground of the forest floors where it grows.
- Does starflower stay green year round?
- No. Trientalis borealis is deciduous and its foliage dies back and goes dormant later in the summer after flowering.
- Is Northern Starflower HOA-friendly?
- Northern Starflower takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
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.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Northern Starflower? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
Planning a bed around it? Start a free plan with this plant
Not sure where to start? Take the 2-minute yard quiz