Common chickweed Stellaria media
Table of Contents
Plant family: Caryophyllaceae
Aliases: Chickenwort, winterweed
Flowering period: January – December
Flower colour: White
Preferred soil type: Most types, fertile
Habitat: Arable land, disturbed ground, waste areas
Status: Common
General information
A low-growing, annual plant, frequently found on disturbed soil, agricultural land, waste areas and newly seeded grassy places. Common chickweed is often considered a weed to many. As it’s names suggests it’s a favourite food source of chickens and other types of fowl and poultry.
It is tolerant of various conditions, but prefers to grow in cool moist, shaded sites. Although it grows in most types of soil, it prefers fertile soils that have suffered some disturbance, which is the reason it’s so common on agricultural land.
Identification
Flowers: The tiny white flowers each have five deeply cut petals (often giving the appearance of ten), they are very similar to those of mouse-ear chickweed. They measure between 1 – 10mm in diameter and can flower all year round.
Leaves: The hairless leaves are opposite, lance-elliptic to oblong in shape, with pointed tips and rarely more than 13mm in length, they are similar in appearance to scarlet pimpernel. The lower leaves are stalked, with the upper being mostly stalk less.
Value for wildlife
The small white flowers are an excellent source of nectar for bees and other pollinators, especially early spring time before other wildflowers have appeared. Its a food source for the larvae of different types of moth.
As well as being the food source of chickens and other fowl, many garden birds including sparrows, finches and blackbirds will eat it.
Uses for common chickweed
Common chickweed is edible and often considered as a superfood, with the leaves being used in salads, sandwiches, wraps, broths and stews. It also has medicinal properties and has been used as an anti-inflammatory, a diuretic and to treat skin conditions.
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