Common Chickweed

Stellaria media

Stellaria media Common Chickweed Stellaria media Common Chickweed

(Click on image to enlarge.)


Stellaria media Common Chickweed Stellaria media Common Chickweed

(Click on image to enlarge.)


Stellaria media Common Chickweed Stellaria media Common Chickweed



Common Chickweed is a member of the Pink family. It is native to Europe, but is now found across most of North America. In the Mobile area it is a common weed of lawns and gardens. The name Chickweed seems to refer to the use of the plant for feeding chickens. This plant also has medicinal uses: a web search will lead to many sites promoting its use for health, and just about as many explaining how to eradicate it as a pest.

In photos four and six, note the narrow band of hairs on only one side of the stems. That band of hairs is a good identification characteristic for Common Chickweed: no related species has that trait. These plants were photographed in my garden in Mobile in early April.

Caryophyllaceae - Pink family


Main Page