Wildflowers of the United States

Common Chickweed - Stellaria media

Genus Common Name: Starwort

Native Status: Introduced

Stellaria media - Common Chickweed. Common Chickweed is a non-native species which is now found in every state in the United States. It is low-growing, often found in mats of tangle plants in disturbed areas. It can be invasive.

Distribution of Stellaria media in the United States and Canada:

Map courtesy of The Biota of North America Program.
Map color key
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Site: Walker County, GA Date: 2010-February-21	Photographer: Gerald C. Williamson
Common Chickweed has 5 deeply notched white petals, giving it the appearance of having 10 petals. Note the 5 hairy sepals.

Site: Walker County, GA Date: 2010-February-21	Photographer: Gerald C Williamson 1/60f/16
Stellaria media's pedicels and sepals are hairy.
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Site: Walker County, GA Date: 2010-February-21	Photographer: Gerald C Williamson 1/60f/9 ISO200
Common chickweed's leave are ovate, opposite, and on relatively long petioles, except for those near the end of the stem. The petioles are sparsely hairy. The stem has a dense line of short hairs.
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Stellaria media initially published on USWildflowers.com 2010-03-11; Updated 2015-06-25

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All content except USDA Plants Database map Copyright Gerald C. Williamson 2024
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Code Update 20230302