Thymeleaf Sandwort

Thymeleaf Sandwort (Arenaria serpyllifolia)

        Thymeleaf Sandwort, introduced from Europe, is found widespread across the United States. A member of the Carnation family Caryophyllaceae, Thymeleaf Sandwort grows almost anywhere but prefers open waste, rocky, barren, dry habitats. Found growing in a wide variety of soils, including moist to dry sand, clay or rocky soils it also grows in urban areas in cracks and along edges of sidewalks.
        Blooming from spring through early summer the Thymeleaf Sandwort, often over looked, produces small, one quarter inch and smaller white, five petaled flowers on sprawling or upright stems to ten inches long.
        The leaves are a quarter inch long and hairy along leaf margins. The green sepals, longer than the petals, are clearly visible under and between the petals.
        Young leaves are edible and the plant has medicinal uses.
        It is not recommended that these plants be used as medicine or food since they may have bad side effects. Similar species, misidentified, may cause illness or death.