Harrison’s Stickseed: A Rare Utah Native Worth Protecting
Meet Harrison’s stickseed (Hackelia patens var. harrisonii), one of Utah’s most elusive native wildflowers. This little-known perennial forb represents the kind of botanical treasure that makes native plant enthusiasts’ hearts skip a beat—partly because it’s so incredibly rare that most of us will never encounter it in the wild.
A Utah Endemic with a Story
Harrison’s stickseed is what botanists call an endemic species, meaning it’s found naturally in only one place on Earth. In this case, that place is Utah, where this hardy perennial has carved out its niche in the state’s diverse landscapes. As a member of the borage family (Boraginaceae), it shares relatives with more familiar plants like forget-me-nots and comfrey, though it’s developed its own unique characteristics over thousands of years of evolution in Utah’s specific conditions.
This herbaceous perennial grows as a forb, which simply means it’s a non-woody flowering plant that dies back to the ground each winter and re-emerges from its roots come spring. Like many plants in the stickseed genus, it likely produces small flowers followed by seeds that can stick to passing animals—hence the charming common name.
Rarity Alert: Handle with Care
Here’s where things get serious: Harrison’s stickseed carries a Global Conservation Status of T2T3, which translates to imperiled to vulnerable. This ranking system helps conservationists understand which species need the most protection, and Harrison’s stickseed definitely falls into the needs our help category.
What does this mean for home gardeners? Simply put, this isn’t a plant you should be casually adding to your shopping list. Its rarity means that:
- Wild populations are extremely limited and vulnerable
- Collecting seeds or plants from the wild could harm remaining populations
- Any cultivation should only be done with responsibly sourced, ethically obtained material
- Conservation efforts should take priority over ornamental use
Should You Grow Harrison’s Stickseed?
The honest answer? Probably not, and here’s why. With such limited wild populations, the most important thing we can do for Harrison’s stickseed is protect the places where it naturally grows. Unless you’re working with conservation organizations or botanical institutions on legitimate preservation efforts, it’s best to admire this species from afar and focus your gardening energy on other Utah natives that are more readily available.
If you’re passionate about supporting Utah’s native flora, consider these more common alternatives that capture some of the same spirit:
- Other Hackelia species that are less rare
- Native members of the borage family like bluebells
- Utah’s abundant wildflower species that welcome cultivation
The Bigger Picture
Harrison’s stickseed reminds us that native gardening isn’t just about what we can grow—it’s also about what we choose to protect. Every rare endemic species represents millions of years of evolutionary adaptation to very specific conditions. When we lose these species, we lose irreplaceable pieces of our natural heritage.
So while you might not be planting Harrison’s stickseed in your garden anytime soon, you can still play a role in its conservation by supporting habitat protection efforts in Utah, learning about rare plants in your own region, and choosing abundant native species for your landscape projects.
Sometimes the greatest act of plant love is knowing when to leave something wild and wonderful exactly where it belongs—thriving in its natural home, free from our well-meaning but potentially harmful intervention.
