Chickweed
Chickweed is considered a weed because of its ability to quickly spread, and outcompete plants. It produces large numbers of seeds that germinate quickly, form dense mats and choke out desirable vegetation.
Jerry Spencer 
Chickweed is considered a weed because of its ability to quickly spread, and outcompete plants. It produces large numbers of seeds that germinate quickly, form dense mats and choke out desirable vegetation.
Both the annual Common Chickweed (Stellaria media) and perennial Mouse-Ear Chickweed (Cerastium fontanum) look very similar. However, they have different leaf and stem characteristics.
After you read this, you will be able to:
- Identify Common and Mouse Ear Chickweed.
- Know the habitat of Common and Mouse Ear Chickweed.
- Know the best options to remove Chickweeds.
Why is Common Chickweed a Problem Weed?
- It spreads and reproduces quickly.
- Chickweed produces thousands of seeds.
- Chickweed competes with plants for sunlight, water, and nutrients.
- It forms dense mats that smother young seedlings and established plants.
- The dense mats of Chickweed can smother or shade young seedlings and established plants.
- You can hand remove individual plants. However, the sheer number of seeds they produce means that their management must be ongoing.
Common Chickweed is a good indicator weed of heavy, poorly drained sites, and shade. In a turf situation it often indicates poor turf density.
More information on turf weeds is in our weed ID chart.
