
Is this plant a weed?
Common Chickweed, Stellaria media (L.) Vill
Credit: Bob Mugaas
Credit: Bob Mugaas
Credit: Bob Mugaas
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Found in:
- Lawns and landscape beds, especially shaded, moist areas
Characteristics:
- Low growing annual that forms a dense mat; can reach up to 40” across
- Stems are branched and mostly smooth (without hairs)
- Leaves are broadly elliptic to egg-shaped and pointed at the tip, arise in pairs (opposite one another) along stem
- Small, white flowers have 5 deeply divided petals appearing like 10 separate flower petals
- Shallow, fibrous root system
Significance:
- Tolerates low mowing height
- Can outcompete grass attempting to survive in moist, shaded areas
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