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

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

Guide botanique

Common Chickweed.

Stellaria media

Prononciation stel-LAIR-ee-uh MEE-dee-uh

Aussi appelée Chickweed, Common Chickweed

Common chickweed is a hardy, low growing annual that thrives in cool, moist conditions. It often appears as a weed in gardens but is actually edible and quite nutritious. You will find it spreads quickly across the soil surface.

Une autre photo de Common Chickweed — Photo de Karen Fry (CC BY) via gbif

En un coup d'œil

Niveau d'entretien: Facile
Type de plante: Annual herb
Lumière: Partial shade to full sun
Lumière en intérieur: Lumière vive indirecte
Arrosage: Tous les 2 à 4 jours
Taille adulte: 6 to 12 inches
Croissance: Rapide
Rusticité: USDA 4 à 9
Floraison: Early spring to late autumn

Entretien

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.

Arrosage: Keep the soil evenly damp to the touch.
Engrais: Fertilizer is generally not needed for this fast growing annual.
Taille: Trim back stems to encourage bushier growth or harvest for culinary use.
Rempotage: Since it is an annual, you will likely be replanting from seed each year.
Sol: Rich, moist, well draining soil
pH du sol: 6.0 to 7.5
Température: -10 à 25°C
Humidité: 40 à 80%
Résistance à la sécheresse: Faible
Durée de vie: Annual, typically 1 year.
Résistance aux chevreuils et lapins: Moyenne

Signes qu'il faut rempoter

Roots circling the bottom of the pot.
Stunted growth despite regular watering.

Sécurité

Humains: This plant is generally considered safe and is often consumed as a wild edible green.
Enfants: The small seeds and stems are not toxic, but they pose a minor choking hazard if ingested in large quantities.
Allergènes de contact: Some individuals may experience mild skin irritation from handling the stems.
Allergènes aéroportés: The pollen can trigger mild seasonal allergies in sensitive people.
Comestibilité: Ensure plants are harvested from areas free of pesticides and chemical fertilizers before consumption.

Comment l'identifier

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

Hauteur: 0,05 à 0,4m
Envergure: 0,15 à 0,6m
Feuilles: bright green, deciduous
Fleurs: white, 0,5 à 1cm
Fruits: brown, Spring to autumn

Problèmes courants

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

La cultiver

Multiplication: seed
Quand planter: spring, autumn
Hivernage: It often survives mild winters as a low-growing rosette and will continue to grow whenever temperatures rise above freezing.
En pot: It grows well in shallow containers or window boxes, provided the soil stays consistently moist.

Direct Sowing

1. Prepare a patch of moist, fertile soil in early spring or autumn.
2. Scatter seeds thinly over the surface.
3. Lightly press the seeds into the soil without burying them deep.
4. Keep the area consistently moist until germination occurs.

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

Bonnes associations

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

Espèces similaires

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.

Science

Famille: Caryophyllaceae
Genre: Stellaria
Ordre: Caryophyllales
Classe: Magnoliopsida
Région d'origine: Europe and Western Asia, now naturalized globally.
Préservation: 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.

Intérêt pour la faune: nectar source, early season food
Pollinisateurs: abeilles, papillons, coléoptères
Utilisations: culinary greens, poultry feed, medicinal tea, ground cover

Au fil des saisons

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Floraison

Fructification

Feuillage

Repères écologiques

Salinité: 2/9
Réaction du sol: 6/9
Lumière: 6/9
Température: 4/9
Humidité: 6/9
Nutriments: 7/9

Taxonomie vérifiée avec le GBIF.

Ce qu'on demande souvent

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.

D'où vient le nom

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.

Bon à savoir

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.

Ta plante a mauvaise mine ?

Cette page est un guide général. Pocket Botanist diagnostique les problèmes directement à partir d'une photo de ta plante, adapte l'arrosage à sa luminosité et te prévient quand il faut t'en occuper.

Télécharger l'appli

Ce guide a été généré par IA et vérifié avec la taxonomie du GBIF. Il s'agit d'informations générales, et non de conseils horticoles ou vétérinaires. Découvre comment nous concevons ces guides.