Chickweed
Stellaria media
Family: CaryophyllaceaeNative: Europe, but now naturalized worldwideIdentified: Oct 9, 2025
Chickweed is a low-growing annual plant, often forming dense mats. It has small, oval to heart-shaped bright green leaves, and tiny white, star-like flowers, each with five deeply notched petals, making them appear as ten. The stems are slender and often have a line of fine hairs along one side.
Learn more about Chickweed in the encyclopedia →Care instructions
As a common weed, chickweed is quite resilient. It thrives in cool, moist, and shady conditions, often found in disturbed soil. It does not typically require cultivation or special care, and in many gardens, it is actively removed. If growing for culinary or medicinal purposes, ensure it is in clean soil, free from pesticides or pollutants, and kept consistently moist.