ExplorePlants

star chickweed

Stellaria pubera

Star chickweed is a lovely little plant with star-shaped white flowers. It grows close to the ground and can often be found in gardens and forests, making it a cheerful sight in springtime.

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The star chickweed has delicate bright green leaves and stems covered in fine hairs. Its small, white, star-shaped flowers appear in clusters, each with ten deeply divided petals, making them look like five petals.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderCaryophyllalesFamilyCaryophyllaceaeGenusStellaria
star chickweed
flowering trait badgeshade_tolerant trait badgespring_blooming trait badgeedible trait badge
star chickweed

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

Interesting facts

Ancient people used chickweed in soups and salads as a healthy green!

Did you know its leaves can stay green even under snow?

Its tiny seeds can stay alive in the soil for many, many years, waiting to grow!

Look closely: each flower has five petals, but they're so deeply split they look like ten!

Special abilities

Ability

Spreading Power

Star chickweed can quickly form dense mats, helping it cover ground and outcompete other plants for sunlight.

Ability

Early Bloomer

Star chickweed has flowers that open very early in spring, giving it a head start to attract the first active pollinators.

Ability

Seed Slingers

Star chickweed can burst its seed pods, flinging tiny seeds away to spread its family far and wide!

Ability

Edible Greens

Star chickweed has tender leaves that are a tasty snack for many animals, making it a valuable food source.

Measurements & details

Height
10-30 cm
Spread
30-60 cm
Flower Size
0.5-1 cm
Bloom Season
Spring to early summer
Edible
Yes
Toxicity
None
Lifecycle
Perennial
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

Honey bee

Apis mellifera

gathers nectar and pollen from its blooms.

pollinates

Hoverfly

Syrphus ribesii

visits flowers, helping them make seeds.

eaten by

White-tailed deer

Odocoileus virginianus

browses on its tender leaves and stems.

eaten by

Eastern Cottontail

Sylvilagus floridanus

relishes its soft leaves and stems.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always look at plants from a distance and ask an adult before touching or picking them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is star chickweed?

10-30 cm

How wide does star chickweed spread?

30-60 cm

How big are the flowers on star chickweed?

0.5-1 cm

When does star chickweed bloom?

Spring to early summer

Is star chickweed edible?

Yes

Is star chickweed toxic?

None

What is star chickweed's lifecycle?

Perennial

How is star 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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