Draba verna – Common Whitlowgrass

Whitlowgrass is a tiny annual flower that typically can be found growing in very tough conditions like cracks in pavement. The flower is really small and can only be spotted by a sharp eye.

Whitlowgrass grows from a central point in the ground and the leaves are stemless and arranged in a circle around the main plant. The whole base is often no more than a couple inches in diameter. The flower comes up in the middle as well, and is on a short stem, without leaves, only a couple inches tall max. The flowers are on the top and are very tiny and difficult to spot from a distance. The flower has four white petals, however since each petal can have a split in the middle, it can appear to have eight petals. The flower self pollinates and doesn’t rely on insects or the wind.

Whitlowgrass blooms in the early spring and is one of the first to bloom. It can bloom mid-February through Mid-April. The actual bloom is short lived and the seeds develop very quickly.