Corn Spurrey (Spergula media)

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Sunlight Full sun to partial sun; thrives in open, unshaded areas and tolerates brief periods of direct midday sun

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Watering Water regularly during extended dry spells; tolerates mild drought once established in well-drained soil

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Temperature Hardy to light frost (down to 5°C); prefers cool to temperate growing conditions

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Leaf: Narrow, linear, whorled leaves (6–8 per node) with a succulent, bright green texture
Flower: Tiny white star-shaped blooms with 5 rounded petals, clustered at stem apices
Stem: Slender, branching green stems with fine, sparse hairs

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Watering

Keep soil evenly moist during active growth to support continuous flowering

Fertilization

Diluted balanced liquid feed once every 2 weeks. Use low-strength feed to avoid promoting excessive foliage growth over blooms

Banana peel tea：Soak chopped banana peels in water for 3 days; dilute 1:10 for root drench; discard solid peels to prevent odor and pest attraction

Pruning

Deadhead spent blooms regularly to extend the flowering period
Thin overcrowded stems to improve airflow and reduce disease risk
Remove entire plants after seed set to allow self-sowing for the following growing season

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Warning: this plant may be toxic.

Pets & Humans

Pets: ASPCA: No listed toxicity to cats; non-hazardous for feline exposure

Humans: No documented toxicity to humans; safe for incidental contact or ingestion in small amounts

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Culture: N/A

Usage: Pollinator support for bees and butterflies; occasional cover crop for agricultural fields