Smallflower Woodland Star (Lithophragma parviflorum) is a small perennial plant found in many regions throughout the US and Canada. While delicate in appearance, this little beauty can be found not only in moist, shaded habitats such as woodlands and riparian areas, but also open prairie and rugged coastal bluffs. Especially elegant in open forest understories, the showy white flowers have unique petals that form a star pattern. The plant also has attractive basal leaves that form a low rosette, creating a visually appealing groundcover. 
 
Plants bloom in late spring to early summer, typically from May to June. This blooming period coincides with the emergence of many spring pollinators, ensuring a reliable source of nectar for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. Smallflower Woodland Star has an intriguing ecological relationship with the parasitic Greya moth (Greya politella). The Greya moth lays its eggs on the flowers of the Woodland Star, and when the eggs hatch, the larvae feed on the developing seeds within the flower's ovary. However detrimental this might seem, research suggests that this interaction may actually benefit the plant by triggering a defense response that causes it to produce more flowers and seeds than plants without the moth's presence. 
 
Although sun and drought-tolerant once mature, Smallflower Woodland Star thrives in well-drained, humus-rich soils that retain moisture but never become waterlogged. It is well-suited for areas with dappled light, and the low-growing habit of the plant makes it an ideal low-maintenance groundcover along woodland edges. Freshly harvested seed can be surface sown immediately in late summer, while stored seeds require a period of cold stratification to break dormancy and should be surface sown in the fall to late winter.