Seasonal Wild Flowers

Common Chickweed

Stellaria media

Caryophyllaceae

January to December

It is found throughout the country.

See the BSBI distribution map for Common Chickweed

It is a weed of gardens and agriculture - it likes

nutrient-rich, fertilised soils.

It is also found on bare and disturbed ground, cracks in

paving and at the base of walls.

Common Chickweed is a native, short-lived perennial or

annual, sprawling, clambering herb growing up to 50cm.

Flowers are small (5-9mm) with 5 deeply notched white

petals, which are shorter than the sepals.

There are 3 styles and between 2 and 5 stamens.

The sepals have long white hairs.

It seeds readily and is capable of two or three generations

a year.

Leaves are slightly fleshy, ovoid, bright green and in pairs.

The stems are fragile and have single lines of white hairs.

Common Chickweed at the base of a wall

Flowers andpaired leaves

5 petals, 5 sepals, 3 styles and 3 stamens

Side view of styles and 2 stamens with purple anthers

Side view of flower, hairy sepals, purple anthers

Opposite, slightly fleshy leaves

Single rows of hairs on stems

Habit of an expanding colony