When does Sticky Tofieldia bloom?

It typically flowers from June through August, with small clustered blooms on a sticky, glandular stem.

What pollinates Sticky Tofieldia?

Bees and beetles are the main visitors observed on its flowers.

What growing conditions does Sticky Tofieldia need?

It does best in consistently moist to wet soil with part sun, mimicking the boggy, open wetland conditions where it naturally grows.

Why is the stem sticky?

The flowering stem produces glandular hairs that give it a sticky texture, which is where the common name comes from.

Can Sticky Tofieldia handle drier garden soil?

It struggles in dry soil and grows best where moisture is steady, such as pond edges, rain gardens, or low wet spots.

Is Sticky Tofieldia HOA-friendly?

Sticky Tofieldia takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Sticky Tofieldia

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Triantha glutinosa

Last reviewed: August 2026

Sticky Tofieldia is a wetland forb that blooms from June through August in bogs, fens, and wet meadows, sending up sticky flower stalks that draw bees and beetles.

Toxicity unknown

Sticky Tofieldia (Triantha glutinosa) 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 sun

Water

medium

Size

4"–12" H × 2"–6" W

Bloom

Jun, Jul, Aug

Native to

IL, IN, ME, MI and 13 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.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Coast Range Northwestern Forested Mountains Great Plains Northern Forests Northern Lakes and Forests North Central Hardwood Forests Central Corn Belt Plains Eastern Corn Belt Plains Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains Northeastern Highlands Acadian Plains and Hills

Sticky tofieldia is a small native perennial that forms tight clumps of narrow, grass-like leaves. It produces delicate spikes of tiny white flowers from June through August, creating a refined appearance in partly sunny locations.

Growing Sticky Tofieldia

Grow Sticky Tofieldia in part sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 4 to 12 inches tall and spread 2 to 6 inches wide. Expect high maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

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

Works well in: backyard only.

Extremely uncommon and may appear as unidentified weed
Very small size makes it nearly invisible in landscape
Specialized growing requirements difficult to maintain

Wildlife value

This plant supports native bees and beetles during its summer bloom period. Its small flowers provide nectar for smaller pollinators that might be overlooked by larger blooms.

Common questions

When does Sticky Tofieldia bloom?: It typically flowers from June through August, with small clustered blooms on a sticky, glandular stem.
What pollinates Sticky Tofieldia?: Bees and beetles are the main visitors observed on its flowers.
What growing conditions does Sticky Tofieldia need?: It does best in consistently moist to wet soil with part sun, mimicking the boggy, open wetland conditions where it naturally grows.
Why is the stem sticky?: The flowering stem produces glandular hairs that give it a sticky texture, which is where the common name comes from.
Can Sticky Tofieldia handle drier garden soil?: It struggles in dry soil and grows best where moisture is steady, such as pond edges, rain gardens, or low wet spots.
Is Sticky Tofieldia HOA-friendly?: Sticky Tofieldia 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 the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). 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.

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