ExplorePlants

common chickweed

Stellaria media

Common chickweed is a small, green plant with tiny white flowers. It grows close to the ground and is often found in gardens and fields, making it a friendly plant to spot while exploring nature.

Habitat: Urban areas

Appearance

The common chickweed has small, oval, bright green leaves that grow in a sprawling mat. Its tiny white flowers appear to have ten petals, but each of its five true petals is deeply split, creating a star-like shape. It often forms a dense ground cover.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderCaryophyllalesFamilyCaryophyllaceaeGenusStellaria
common chickweed
flowering trait badgespring_blooming trait badgemedicinal trait badgeedible trait badge
common chickweed

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

Interesting facts

Chickweed seeds can stay alive in the soil for over 50 years, waiting for the perfect time to sprout!

If you pull up a chickweed plant, it can sometimes re-root and keep growing if even a small piece is left!

Its scientific name, Stellaria, means 'little star,' because its tiny white flowers look like twinkling stars!

People have used chickweed leaves to soothe itchy skin for hundreds of years, like a natural bandage!

Special abilities

Ability

Speedy Spreader

Common chickweed can grow incredibly fast and spread quickly to cover ground, helping it find sunlight and space.

Ability

Winter Warrior

Common chickweed has a special ability to grow and even flower in cool weather, sometimes even under snow!

Ability

Self-Pollinating Star

Common chickweed can pollinate itself, ensuring it makes seeds even when no insects are around to help.

Measurements & details

Height
5-50 cm
Spread
10-60 cm
Flower Size
0.5-1 cm
Bloom Season
Year-round in mild climates, spring-fall elsewhere
Edible
Yes
Toxicity
None
Lifecycle
Annual
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

eaten by

House Sparrow

Passer domesticus

birds love its seeds and tender leaves

pollinates

Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

bees visit its tiny flowers for nectar

eaten by

Spanish Slug

Arion lusitanicus

slugs munch on its tender leaves

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always check with an adult before touching or eating any plants.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is common chickweed?

5-50 cm

How wide does common chickweed spread?

10-60 cm

How big are the flowers on common chickweed?

0.5-1 cm

When does common chickweed bloom?

Year-round in mild climates, spring-fall elsewhere

Is common chickweed edible?

Yes

Is common chickweed toxic?

None

What is common chickweed's lifecycle?

Annual

How is common chickweed pollinated?

Insect

Snap Map

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Where to spot

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