Common chickweed

Discuss this plant with the guide — choose this profile as a possible match and prepare your observations for Colorado Plants & Practical Care.

Stellaria media

Common introduced weed · not on state Lists A/B/C. C-floristic-2020 CO-rules-2025

A cool-season weed that can seed while still small. Exposure help.

Identification caveat: Common chickweed is not every plant called chickweed. Species identification and contamination history must be established independently of any food-use claim.

Still researching this plant

This is a sourced working profile. Evidence is incomplete for People, Dogs & cats, Other animals. Identification and source-photo limits are explained below. Independent botanical and veterinary review is pending. Uncertainty is not a finding that the plant is safe.

Three views of this plant

Source-identified reference photographs; these are not a complete identification key. A source location outside Colorado does not establish local occurrence.

Stellaria media: A small flowering shoot held on a glove, showing white deeply divided petals, opposite leaves and buds. — **flower and leaves** — A small flowering shoot held on a glove, showing white deeply divided petals, opposite leaves and buds.
Forest and Kim Starr · CC BY 3.0 us
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Source scientific identification plus visual morphology review of the selected photograph. This is a source-identified reference, not an independent specimen-based taxonomic determination. Stellaria media belongs to a complex with similar chickweeds. Identification follows the source; a single flower or seedling view alone may not distinguish every member.
Wikimedia server-resized derivative; no local crop, colour change or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; catalog preview may use a CSS crop.

Stellaria media: A dense low mat of green chickweed foliage dotted with small white flowers. — **habit** — A dense low mat of green chickweed foliage dotted with small white flowers.
Douglas Goldman · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Source scientific identification plus visual morphology review of the selected photograph. This is a source-identified reference, not an independent specimen-based taxonomic determination. Stellaria media belongs to a complex with similar chickweeds. Identification follows the source; a single flower or seedling view alone may not distinguish every member.
iNaturalist large server-resized photo; no local crop, colour change or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; catalog preview may use a CSS crop.

Stellaria media: Dried capsules and numerous small brown seeds arranged on a pale background; the source includes a 1 cm scale. — **fruits and seeds** — Dried capsules and numerous small brown seeds arranged on a pale background; the source includes a 1 cm scale.
Roger Culos · CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Source scientific identification plus visual morphology review of the selected photograph. This is a source-identified reference, not an independent specimen-based taxonomic determination. Stellaria media belongs to a complex with similar chickweeds. Identification follows the source; a single flower or seedling view alone may not distinguish every member.
Wikimedia server-resized derivative; no local crop, colour change or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; catalog preview may use a CSS crop.

Identification

A soft, spreading annual with opposite oval leaves and small white flowers. Five deeply split petals look like ten. A line of hairs runs along the stems. N-stellaria-media

People

The source reports saponins in the leaves alongside food uses. This profile does not establish a safe portion or identify a plant for foraging. N-stellaria-media

Dogs & cats

The reviewed sources do not establish species-specific ingestion effects or a safe exposure amount for dogs or cats. Missing evidence does not establish safety.

Other animals

The reviewed sources do not establish species-specific ingestion effects or a safe exposure amount for livestock. Missing evidence does not establish safety.

Plants & habitat

It can root at stem joints and reseed quickly in moist, fertile ground. It also provides food and habitat for insects and birds. N-stellaria-media

Management & timing

Look for small plants during cool weather. Shallow roots make young patches relatively easy to pull; remove them before further seed production. N-stellaria-media

Before taking action

Confirm identification and the requirements of your county weed program. For chemical treatment, follow the current product label, including restrictions around animals and water. S27

References

C-floristic-2020 — Colorado Floristic Quality Assessment: 2020 Update, Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University. Accessed 2026-09-07T02:27:33+00:00. Locator: Appendix B, Colorado species list: scientific name and native/non-native fields.
CO-rules-2025 — Colorado Noxious Weed Act rules, 8 CCR 1206-2, Colorado Secretary of State / Department of Agriculture. Accessed 2026-09-07T01:07:48+00:00. Locator: Parts 3.1, 4.1, 5.1; management provisions; effective May 15, 2025.
N-stellaria-media — Stellaria media, NC State Extension. Accessed 2026-09-07T02:23:12+00:00. Locator: Description, identification attributes and plant problems; toxicity section where present.
S27 — 2103 – Colorado Noxious Weeds, PlantTalk Colorado · CSU Extension. Accessed 2026-09-07T00:23:57+00:00. Locator: List A, B and C management categories.

Content revised 2026-09-07 02:46:00Z · Source checks dated separately in the references.