Stellaria media

Stellaria media, more commonly known as common chickweed, is an annual groundcover plant native to Europe, but is found throughout almost all parts of the world.  Though it is an annual in cold climates, the common chickweed becomes an evergreen perennial in the warmer zones.  Petite succulent leaves grow in an opposite pattern on the plant's long, vine-like stems.  To tell common chickweed apart from similar plants, look for the single line of fine hairs growing along the length of the stems.  One green, star-shaped flower bract cups under the five deeply-lobed white petals of the common chickweed's blooms, which resemble the wings of a small insect.  Common chickweed can be eaten by humans and fowl, getting its common name from its use as chicken feed, even though it has a mild level of toxicity.  The particular toxins, saponins, are not readily absorbed by most mammals, which has allowed for the use of chickweed foliage in many culinary creations.  In addition to its use as a food source, common chickweed has long been used in many herbal medicines by different cultures to remedy a great number of ailments.  

Plant common chickweed in a location that receives 4–8 hours of bright sunlight daily to encourage robust growth.  Any rich, well-draining soil mixture should be more than adequate for this weedy plant.  Common chickweed plants need consistently moist soil to thrive, so make sure to water them weekly to maintain good health.  When planted in fertile soil, there should be no need to fertilize.  Winter and autumn may present dry air conditions that sap the soil of moisture, and this can cause the plant to die.  Common chickweed plants need to be watered more frequently in the cool, dry months to help prevent them from drying out.  Learn more in the Plant Story community!

3-6 hours of sun per day, with protection from intense mid-day sun

Water sparingly, allowing the mix to nearly dry out between watering.

Stellaria Media

Stellaria media

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