Other common names: Starweed, bindweed, winterweed, satin flower, tongue grass.
Scientific name: Stellaria media
Common Chickweed is a matted, herbaceous, winter annual broadleaf plant. It thrives under cool, wet conditions and is a prolific spring weed. It rarely tolerates the hot, dry conditions of late spring or early summer. it tolerates cold weather so well that it can survive winter in mild climates.
Common Chickweed can be identified by its horizontal stems, which branch out and form relatively smooth leaves (there may be 1 or 2 rows of hairs). Both its stems and its leaves are light green in color. Common Chickweed has a shallow, fibrous root system and reproduction is by seed.
Flowers form on long stalks that emerge from leaf axils, either singly or in clusters called cymes, in which the central flower opens first. Although the delicate white flowers are only ΒΌ inch (6 mm) across, their starburst shape is conspicuous against the bright green leaves. Flowers consist of five petals so deeply indented that they appear as ten. They last for one day and open fully only under sunny skies.
In lawns, establishing and maintaining healthy sod is the best defense against chickweed. If chickweed becomes a widespread problem in turfgrass, it can be controlled by chemical herbicides.
