Specularia perfoliata, commonly called Venus’ looking-glass, is a delicate annual wildflower in the bellflower family (Campanulaceae) that is native to much of North America, where it thrives in open fields, prairies, roadsides, and disturbed soils. The plant usually grows 6 to 20 inches tall, with slender, somewhat angled stems that are lined with small, rounded leaves that appear to clasp the stem, giving it a distinctive perfoliate look. Blooming in late spring through summer, it produces small but charming starry purple to violet, bell-shaped flowers that may appear singly in the leaf axils, opening on sunny days to attract bees and small pollinators. Although its blooms are modest compared to showier garden flowers, Specularia perfoliata is prized for its dainty wildflower charm, its adaptability to dry or sandy soils, and its role in supporting native pollinators. In meadows and naturalized plantings, it adds a subtle splash of color and texture, often weaving among grasses and other annuals, where its delicate form and scattered blooms lend a light, airy beauty to the landscape.