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Common Chickweed (WA) — Stellaria media — Family: Caryophyllaceae — Pink
Primarily a winter annual, common chickweed is frequently found growing in the mulch skirts of shade trees. In general, common chickweed prefers shaded sites with moist soils. The vegetation forms mounds that are 3-7 inches tall. The delicate white-to-pink flowers appear early in the spring. Plants can persist in protected areas well after flowering.
Other weeds in the Pink (Caryophyllaceae) family:
Primarily a winter annual, common chickweed is frequently found growing in the mulch skirts of shade trees. In general, common chickweed prefers shaded sites with moist soils. The vegetation forms mounds that are 3-7 inches tall. The delicate white-to-pink flowers appear early in the spring. Plants can persist in protected areas well after flowering.
Also Known As...
- bindweed
- winterweed
- satin flower
- starweed
- chicken-weed
- white bird's-eye
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Heart/Spade |
Entire |
Opposite |
Clump |
fibrous, shallow root system prefers moist soils
leaves are opposite, egg-shaped and pointed at the apex
white star-shaped flowers with 5 deeply divided petals that appear as 10, flowers form in groups of three or five
Common chickweed can be confused with mouseear chickweed. This is due to the similarity in flowers. The mouseear chickweed has more elliptical leaves that are covered with hairs. The flowers petals of mouseear chickweed are cleft or notched at the apex not deeply divided like that of common chickweed.
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Common chickweed has a poorly developed root system as is a great candidate for mechanical removal (pulling). As a winter annual, chickweed is often an indicator of poor turf density. Outbreaks of chickweed in open areas will quickly die out in the spring. This production of new seed ensures a crop of chickweed for the following season. Improved turf density is critical to reducing common chickweed infestations.
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