Paronychia jamesii aka James' Nailwort

Paronychia jamesii belongs to the pink family, Caryophyllaceae. It is a perennial, a plant that lives for years. Common names include nailwort and James' nailwort. Kew places its native range in the west-central United States. It also grows in the south-central states and northern Mexico. Plants For A Future lists Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Colorado. It also lists Wyoming, New Mexico, and Texas. In Mexico, its range includes Chihuahua and Coahuila de Zaragoza. Kew says it grows in regions with a temperate climate. It is not native to Britain or Ireland.

In the wild, this plant grows on rocky or sandy hills. It grows in prairies and pastures, too. It often grows where the soil holds lime. These records link it to open ground and mineral soils. The sources give no sound figures for height or spread. They give no details of its stems, leaves, or shape. There is too little evidence to describe its foliage or bark. These records do not support a size range for gardens.

Plants For A Future says this species needs a site without shade. It lists sand and loam as suitable soils. The soil must drain well. Its listed soil range starts at mildly acid. It runs through neutral to mildly alkaline. The plant can grow in dry or moist soil. The same source says it can cope with drought. Its fuller care notes concern the genus, not this species. Those notes do not confirm how to care for James' nailwort. How well it copes with British cold remains unclear. The source gives no hardiness zone.

The flowers have both male and female organs. Plants For A Future says insects pollinate the flowers. The evidence gives no flower colour or bloom season. It does not describe the fruit. It gives no account of this species' garden display. Beyond insect pollination, it gives no account of its wildlife value. The records name no pests or diseases. This gap does not mean the plant has no such problems.

Plants For A Future records use of the herb for tea. It gives the plant a low score for edible use. It lists no known uses as medicine or other uses. The source reports no known hazards. This does not prove that the plant is safe. The evidence does not show safety for people or pets. It also lists no weed potential for this species.