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Stellaria media

common chickweed

  • Other common names common chickweed
    chickweed

    chickenweed
    satin flower
    tongue grass
    white bird's eye
    winter weed

    see more

  • Family Caryophyllaceae

  • Genus Stellaria can be annuals or herbaceous perennials, with slender stems bearing simple, opposite leaves and terminal cymes of white flowers with 5 deeply notched petals

  • Details S. media is a semi-evergreen annual, growing all year round in mild weather, with fine, sprawling stems, small, bright green leaves and tiny star-shaped white flowers from spring to autumn

Characteristics

  • Foliage Semi-evergreen

  • Habit Bushy

  • Hardiness

    Hardiness ratings

    All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

    • H1a - Under glass all year (>15C)
    • H1b - Can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
    • H1c - Can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
    • H2 - Tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
    • H3 - Hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
    • H4 - Hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
    • H5 - Hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
    • H6 - Hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
    • H7 - Hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

    H7

Colour

Sunlight

  • Full Sun

  • Partial Shade

  • Aspect North-facing or South-facing or West-facing or East-facing

  • Exposure Exposed or Sheltered

Soil

  • Chalk

    Chalk

  • Clay

    Clay

  • Loam

    Loam

  • Sand

    Sand

  • MoistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained

  • SoilChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

  • pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral

Size

  • Ultimate height 0.1-0.5 metres

  • Ultimate spread 0.1-0.5 metres

  • Time to ultimate height 1 year

How to grow

Cultivation Grows naturally in cultivated ground and open areas and is a frequent garden weed

Propagation Spreads readily by seed

Suggested planting locations and garden types Wildlife Gardens

How to care

Pruning None required

Pests Generally trouble free

Diseases Generally trouble free

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