Plant Details

Stellaria media

Chickweed

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Common names

53 names · 37 languages
EnglishYour language
  • adder's mouth[1]
  • Chickweed[1]
  • common chickweed[1]
+4 more namesShow fewer names
  • indian chickweed[1]
  • pamplinas[1]
  • Peppergrass[1]
  • scarwort[1]
Other languages (36)
Dutch
French
  • Mouron blanc[1]
  • Mouron des oiseaux[1]
  • Stellaire intermediaire[1]
Arabic
  • حشيشة القزاز[1]
Asturian
Belarusian
  • Зоркаўка сярэдняя, ці Макрыца[1]
Bulgarian
  • Врабчови чревца[1]
  • Средна звездица[1]
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 繁縷[1]
  • 繁縷 魚腸草[1]
Czech
  • ptačinec prostřední[1]
  • ptačinec žabinec[1]
Danish
  • Almindelig fuglegræs[1]
Estonian
Finnish
  • pihatähtimö[1]
Galician
German
  • Gewöhnliche Vogelmiere[1]
  • Vogel-Sternmiere[1]
Hebrew
  • כוכבית מצויה[1]
Hungarian
Irish
Italian
  • Centocchio comune[1]
Japanese
  • コハコベ[1]
Korean
Latvian
  • Parastā virza[1]
Lithuanian
  • Daržinė žliūgė[1]
Maori
Norwegian
Polish
  • gwiazdnica pospolita[1]
Portuguese
Romanian
Russian
  • Звездчатка мокрица[1]
  • Звездчатка средняя[1]
  • Мокрица[1]
Slovak
  • hviezdica prostredná[1]
Slovenian
  • navadna zvezdica[1]
Spanish
  • caa piquí[1]
  • hierba gallinera[1]
Swedish
Turkish
Ukrainian
  • Зірочник середній[1]
Welsh
  • Gwlyddyn y dom[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Stellaria media — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Vogelmuur — results[1].names[1]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • common chickweed — results[1].names[2]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • hierba gallinera — results[1].names[3]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • Gewöhnliche Vogelmiere — results[1].names[5]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • Vogel-Sternmiere — results[1].names[6]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • pihatähtimö — results[1].names[7]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • Stellaire intermediaire — results[1].names[8]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • 繁縷 魚腸草 — results[1].names[9]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • Mouron des oiseaux — results[1].names[10]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • Mouron blanc — results[1].names[11]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • כוכבית מצויה — results[1].names[12]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • ptačinec prostřední — results[1].names[13]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • Våtarv — results[1].names[14]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • Звездчатка средняя — results[1].names[15]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • Мокрица — results[1].names[16]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • 繁縷 — results[1].names[17]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • Almindelig fuglegræs — results[1].names[18]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • vesihein — results[1].names[19]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • gwiazdnica pospolita — results[1].names[20]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • Muruxa — results[1].names[21]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • Morugem — results[1].names[22]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • ptačinec žabinec — results[1].names[23]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • vassarve — results[1].names[24]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • Centocchio comune — results[1].names[25]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • Звездчатка мокрица — results[1].names[26]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • chickweed — results[1].names[27]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • Daržinė žliūgė — results[1].names[28]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • muruxa — results[1].names[29]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • コハコベ — results[1].names[30]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • 별꽃 — results[1].names[31]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • caa piquí — results[1].names[32]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • hviezdica prostredná — results[1].names[33]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • حشيشة القزاز — results[1].names[34]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • 繁缕 — results[1].names[35]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • Kohukohu — results[1].names[36]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • Morró — results[1].names[37]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • Зірочник середній — results[1].names[38]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • Зоркаўка сярэдняя, ці Макрыца — results[1].names[39]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • navadna zvezdica — results[1].names[40]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • Tyúkhúr — results[1].names[41]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • Parastā virza — results[1].names[42]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • Peppergrass — results[1].names[43]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • indian chickweed — results[1].names[44]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • scarwort — results[1].names[45]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • pamplinas — results[1].names[46]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • adder's mouth — results[1].names[47]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • Racovina — results[1].names[48]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • Средна звездица — results[1].names[49]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • Врабчови чревца — results[1].names[50]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • Fuilig — results[1].names[51]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • Gwlyddyn y dom — results[1].names[52]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • Kuşotu — results[1].names[53]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.
  • Serçe Dili — results[1].names[54]; taxon id 53298; Stellaria media.

General information

Scientific name: Stellaria media
Accepted name (Kew): Stellaria media (L.) Vill. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Botanical family: Caryophyllaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Stellaria (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Chickweed
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous, Ground cover
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.1–0.51 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [2]
Spread: 0.1–0.3 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [2]
Growth rate: Fast
Sources [2]
Foliage: Deciduous, Semi-evergreen
Sources [2]
Growth habit: Ascending, Creeping, Dense, Horizontal, Spreading

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [2]
Life cycle: Annual
Sources [2]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [2]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Occasional Flooding, Occasionally Wet

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [2]
Soil:
Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt)
Sources [2]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [2]
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [2]

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Seed
Edibility rating:
(2)
Medicinal rating:
(3)
Functions:
Bee forage

Description

Young leaves can be eaten raw or cooked as leafy greens and are generally available year-round, except during harsh winters. They are very nutritious and can be added to salads. Cooked leaves have a flavor similar to spring spinach. Note that the leaves contain saponins, so be careful. More information about the toxicity can be found at the top of this page. Nutritional information about the leaves is available. The seeds can be ground into powder and used in bread or thick soups. Harvesting seeds can be challenging because they are available in small quantities for most of the year. The seeds contain 17.8% protein and 5.9% fat.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/01
Harvest ends: 31/12

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 215381; name ID 2482232; Stellaria L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 214394; name ID 2481938; Stellaria media (L.) Vill..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Stellaria media — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 0 ft. 4 in. - 1 ft. 8 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 0 ft. 4 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .