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Common Chickweed

Common Chickweed

Stellaria media

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How common: Very common

Common Chickweed is a low, pale green annual that forms mats and sends up thin, weak stems with tiny white, star-like flowers. It is one of the most widespread wild plants and is often seen in gardens, fields, roadsides and other disturbed places.

Did you know?

  • Each tiny flower looks like it has 10 petals, but there are really 5 split in two.
  • In mild winters it can stay green and may even flower.

About the species

Identification

Low, soft annual, usually 10–30 cm. Stems thin, creeping to rising, with a single line of hairs along one side. Leaves fresh green, in pairs; lower leaves with stalks, upper sitting directly on the stem; all leaves egg-shaped with smooth edges. Flowers very small and white; the five petals are split in two, so the flower looks 10-pointed. The green outer parts are as long as or longer than the petals. Small dry pods follow. Differs from larger stitchworts by its tiny flowers and the single hairy line on the stem. Flowers in Finland May–October.

Plant group

Herbaceous plants

Habitat

yards and roadsides

Flowering

May–Oct

About the habitat

Likes open, human-influenced places that are at least seasonally moist, such as fields, waste ground, yards, paths, verges, gardens, damp woods and shores, and even seabird islets. Common throughout Finland.

Sources

Photo: Trougnouf (Benoit Brummer), CC BY 4.0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stellaria in Nationaal Park De Biesbosch (DSC 3705).jpg

Text: Pinkka: Verso- ja leviäintunnistus - Kaikki leviäimet, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.38048

Text: Pinkka: Verso- ja leviäintunnistus - Kaikki versot, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.38048

Text: Pinkka: Laaja maatalouslajintuntemus 4 op - Koppisiemeniset, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.38048

Text: Pinkka (Luomus), CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.38048

Text: Pinkka: Kasvien talvi - Talvivihreät luonnonkasvit, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.38048

Text: Wikipedia (Finnish), CC BY-SA 4.0 https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pihat%C3%A4htim%C3%B6

See also