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field chickweed

Cerastium arvense

Field chickweed is a small, green plant with tiny white flowers. It often grows in fields and gardens, making it easy to spot during spring and summer.

Habitat: Grasslands

Appearance

The field chickweed has delicate white flowers, each with five petals so deeply notched they appear as ten. Its slender, often hairy stems are covered with small, narrow, green leaves, forming low, spreading mats close to the ground.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderCaryophyllalesFamilyCaryophyllaceaeGenusCerastium
field chickweed
flowering trait badgespring_blooming trait badgeedible trait badgegrassland trait badge
field chickweed

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

Interesting facts

Did you know its five petals are each split almost in half, making them look like ten? Wow!

Its tiny, sticky hairs on stems help catch water droplets and protect from thirsty insects!

This clever plant can produce seeds for many months, ensuring new plants grow for ages!

Young field chickweed leaves are sometimes added to salads, a tiny wild treat!

Special abilities

Ability

Ground Hugger

Field chickweed can grow low and spread wide, forming dense mats that help it survive strong winds and foot traffic.

Ability

Petal Power

Its flowers have deeply split petals that look like ten, making them extra visible to buzzing insect pollinators.

Ability

Tough Survivor

Field chickweed can thrive in poor, disturbed soils, making it one of nature's super hardy pioneer plants.

Measurements & details

Height
10-40 cm
Spread
15-60 cm
Flower Size
1-2 cm
Bloom Season
Spring to Summer
Edible
Yes
Toxicity
None
Lifecycle
Perennial
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

Western Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

Collects nectar and pollen from its flowers.

pollinates

Buff-tailed Bumblebee

Bombus terrestris

Visits flowers for nectar and pollen.

eaten by

European Rabbit

Oryctolagus cuniculus

Young leaves are a common food source.

eaten by

European Goldfinch

Carduelis carduelis

Feeds on its small seeds.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always check with an adult before touching or picking plants.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is field chickweed?

10-40 cm

How wide does field chickweed spread?

15-60 cm

How big are the flowers on field chickweed?

1-2 cm

When does field chickweed bloom?

Spring to Summer

Is field chickweed edible?

Yes

Is field chickweed toxic?

None

What is field chickweed's lifecycle?

Perennial

How is field chickweed pollinated?

Insect

Snap Map

Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.

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Recent Snaps

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Where to spot

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