Common Chickweed
Stellaria media
Also listed as Alsine media, Stellularia media
Also known as Chickweed, Chickweed Starwort, Common Starwort
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A low-growing winter annual or cool-season groundcover with delicate stems and small oval leaves, producing tiny white flowers. Often considered a weed but harmless and useful as a living mulch or early-season groundcover.
Why grow it
Common chickweed establishes quickly in cool seasons where many other groundcovers struggle, making it useful for temporary soil cover or winter mulch in temperate regions. Unlike slower-establishing perennial groundcovers, it requires minimal maintenance once sown and suppresses weeds through dense growth. It is edible and palatable to livestock and poultry, which can integrate it into managed grazing systems.
Watch out for
Chickweed thrives in consistently moist soils and may thin or disappear in dry conditions or during hot summers, so it works best as a seasonal rather than permanent groundcover. Its shallow root system means it competes directly with young transplants for moisture, so establish it before planting perennials or maintain separation around valued plants. In mild-winter regions, it may self-seed persistently if allowed to flower.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Caryophyllaceae
Native Range
Eurasia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
A low-growing winter annual or cool-season groundcover with delicate stems and small oval leaves, producing tiny white flowers. Often considered a weed but harmless and useful as a living mulch or early-season groundcover.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Common Chickweed grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Common chickweed establishes quickly in cool seasons where many other groundcovers struggle, making it useful for temporary soil cover or winter mulch in temperate regions. Unlike slower-establishing perennial groundcovers, it requires minimal maintenance once sown and suppresses weeds through dense growth. It is edible and palatable to livestock and poultry, which can integrate it into managed grazing systems.
Watch out for
Chickweed thrives in consistently moist soils and may thin or disappear in dry conditions or during hot summers, so it works best as a seasonal rather than permanent groundcover. Its shallow root system means it competes directly with young transplants for moisture, so establish it before planting perennials or maintain separation around valued plants. In mild-winter regions, it may self-seed persistently if allowed to flower.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Caryophyllaceae
Native Range
Eurasia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
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