Common Chickweed.

De un vistazo

Nivel de cuidados

Fácil

Tipo de planta

Annual herb

Luz

Partial shade to full sun

Luz en interior

Luz indirecta brillante

Riego

Cada 2 a 4 días

Tamaño adulto

6 to 12 inches

Ritmo de crecimiento

Rápido

Rusticidad

USDA 4 a 9

Floración

Early spring to late autumn

Cuidados

Keep the soil consistently moist as this plant dislikes drying out completely. Watch for wilting during warm spells, which indicates it needs more water or shade. It prefers cooler temperatures and will naturally decline once the summer heat sets in.

Riego

Keep the soil evenly damp to the touch.

Abonado

Fertilizer is generally not needed for this fast growing annual.

Poda

Trim back stems to encourage bushier growth or harvest for culinary use.

Trasplante

Since it is an annual, you will likely be replanting from seed each year.

Suelo

Rich, moist, well draining soil

pH del suelo

6.0 to 7.5

Temperatura

-10 a 25°C

Humedad

40 a 80%

Tolerancia a la sequía

Baja

Longevidad

Annual, typically 1 year.

Resistencia a ciervos y conejos

Moderada

Seguridad

Personas

This plant is generally considered safe and is often consumed as a wild edible green.

Niños

The small seeds and stems are not toxic, but they pose a minor choking hazard if ingested in large quantities.

Alérgenos por contacto

Some individuals may experience mild skin irritation from handling the stems.

Alérgenos en el aire

The pollen can trigger mild seasonal allergies in sensitive people.

Comestibilidad

Ensure plants are harvested from areas free of pesticides and chemical fertilizers before consumption.

Cómo identificarla

• Opposite, oval shaped leaves
• Tiny star shaped white flowers
• Single line of hairs on stems
• Low growing mat forming habit

Altura

0,05 a 0,4m

Anchura

0,15 a 0,6m

Hojas

bright green, deciduous

Flores

white, 0,5 a 1cm

Frutos

brown, Spring to autumn

Problemas frecuentes

• Aphids — Small sap-sucking insects that cluster on new growth.
• Powdery mildew — A fungal infection that creates a white dusty coating on leaves.

Cómo cultivarla

Propagación

seed

Cuándo plantar

spring, autumn

Cuidados en invierno

It often survives mild winters as a low-growing rosette and will continue to grow whenever temperatures rise above freezing.

En maceta

It grows well in shallow containers or window boxes, provided the soil stays consistently moist.

Use it as a living mulch in cool weather to keep the soil moist and suppress other weeds.

Buenas compañeras

• Lettuce — They share similar moisture and cool-season requirements.
• Radish — Both grow quickly in cool weather and occupy different soil depths.

Especies parecidas

• Common mouse-ear chickweed — It has hairy leaves and stems, unlike the smooth stems of common chickweed.
• Anagallis arvensis — It has similar growth habits but produces distinct orange or blue flowers.

Ciencia

Familia

Caryophyllaceae

Género

Stellaria

Orden

Caryophyllales

Clase

Magnoliopsida

Distribución natural

Europe and Western Asia, now naturalized globally.

Conservación

It is a common, widespread weed and is not of conservation concern.

It thrives in disturbed soils and cool, damp environments, often acting as a pioneer species.

Valor para la fauna

nectar source, early season food

Polinizadores

abejas, mariposas, escarabajos

Usos

culinary greens, poultry feed, medicinal tea, ground cover

Taxonomía cotejada con GBIF.

Lo que más preguntan

Is chickweed a weed?

Yes, it is often considered a garden weed due to its rapid growth and seed production.

Can I eat it raw?

Yes, the leaves and stems are tender and have a mild, spinach-like flavor.

De dónde viene el nombre

The name Stellaria comes from the Latin stella, meaning star, referring to the star-shaped flowers. Media refers to its intermediate size compared to other species in the genus.

Bueno saberlo

• Chickweed flowers close up at night and during rainy weather.
• The plant is highly nutritious and rich in vitamins A, C, and D.
• It is a classic indicator of cool, moist, and fertile soil conditions.
• Chickweed is a favorite treat for chickens and other backyard birds.