Plant Details

Stellaria media

Chickweed

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Stellaria media.

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General Information

Scientific name: Stellaria media
Also known as: Chickweed

Plant Properties

Layer: Herbaceous, Ground cover
Size: Small
Height: 0.10 m
Width: 0.50 m
Growth Rate: None
Leaf: None

Growth conditions

USDA Hardiness: 4-11
Soil Moisture:
Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Partial shade, Full sun

Usage properties

Edible part:
Leaves, Seed
Edibility:
(2)
Medicinal:
(3)
Features:
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 Data

Start Harvest: 01/01
End of Harvest: 31/12