Hackelia deflexa is a vascular flowering plant in the borage family known by the common names, northern stickseed,[2] nodding stickseed,[3] and American stickseed[4] It is native in many northern locations from much of Canada (including the province of Alberta, where it is an S3 vulnerable species, and New Brunswick where it is S1 critically imperiled[5]) and the Northern USA as well as in Europe (Spain, France, Italy, Austria, Romania, Ukraine, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, etc.)

Its ovate basil leaves have stalks and rounded tips, while upper leaves grow progressively smaller, and stop developing stalks as they reach increased heights.

Stem leaves grow alternately on erect single (generally) stems that are "much branched with short fine hairs throughout",[4] and are "narrowly lance-elliptic, tapered equally at both ends with a pointed or blunt tip".

It produces light blue to white, and sometimes purplish flowers consisting of 5 petals.

Once it has flowered and been pollinated, produces a small nutlet with tiny prickly barbs on it.