Chickweed

Chickweed, starwort, starweed, winterweed, chickenwort, satin flower, mouse ear, white bird's eye, and scarwor

Chickweed History and Folkore

Chickweed is native to Europe and naturalized throughout the world but not terribly weedy in my area. It likes rich, moist soil and dies back in the dry heat- though it produces plenty of seeds for the next cool, moist season. It provides an early green, rivaling most wild spring greens in nutrition without the bitter flavor common in others, like dandelion and chicory.

Chickweed in the Garden

Chickweed appears in early spring. It is a tiny, prostrate plant with opposite leaves; ovular with pointed tips. A single line of hairs appears along the stem, which is round and snaps easily.  The flowers have five white petals so deeply cleft they can look like 10 petals. The flowers have 3 green stamen and 3 styles and slightly hairy green sepals  When the plant is in flower, they may appear up to a foot above the ground, but usually, it sprawls along the ground.

Similar plants

Stellaria holostea Greater stitchwort, star of Bethlehem – Leaves are lanceolate instead of oval. Also edible

Anagalis arvensis Scarlet pimpernel – similar foliage, with reddish flowers. Toxic.

Cerastium vulgatum Mouse Ear Chickweed- similar in appearance, but furry all over, not just a single line. Also edible, but not as tasty.

Chickweed prefer moist, rich soil and full sun

Chickweed likes a sunny, moist spot, rich soil and cool weather. It will outcompete most other seedlings but makes a nice groundcover under larger established plantings.

Harvest by cutting the top half of the plant, leaving the roots and lower stems to continue growing, unless the chickweed is being weedy. Then you can uproot the whole thing.

Chickweed is a sturdy little plant that isn’t prone to any diseases but there are several Lepidoptera species that feed on it, including:
Chickweed geometer Haematopis grataria, a yellow, day-flying moth with magenta markings and its inch-worm type caterpillar. Native to North America.
Yellow Shell Moth Camptogramma bilineata a calico colored moth and its inch-worm type caterpillar. Native to Europe.
Pale-banded Dart Moth Agnorisma badinodis a dusty brown, tree bark colored moth and its cutworm type caterpillar. Native to North America.
Dusky cutworm Agrotis venerabilis a dusty gray, tree bark colored moth and its cutworm type caterpillar. Native to North America.
Dainty Sulphur Nathalisiole a yellow and brown butterfly native to North America and it’s “Very Hungry Caterpillar”-like caterpillar. Native to North America.

Chickweed in the Kitchen

Chickweed is tasty raw or cooked but contains saponins so it’s a good idea to limit your consumption of raw chickweed. Add it to salads and pesto. High in Iron, zinc, vitamin C.

Stellaria media for Healing

Chickweed is very soothing for the skin and can be added to poultices for stings  It has a cooling and drying affect when applied to the skin. Chickweed is anti-inflammatory both externally as a poultice or added to salves and internally when consumed.

Chickweed has shown promise in weight loss studies involving mice.

You can gain the benefits of chickweed by adding it to an infused oil or infused vinegar, drinking a tea made with dried chickweed, or simply adding it to your salads and pesto.

Some folks are allergic to chickweed. Use caution when trying new foods and use a skin patch test for new skin products.

Chickweed contains saponins which can cause stomach upset in high doses. Some people are more sensitive than others.

It may act as an expectorant. Add it to a tea or broth and sip when you have a cough.

Chickweed Magick

Chickweed corresponds to the element of water and the moon.

Dried chickweed leaves and flowers may be added to spells and magical oils for balance within relationships, sharing and equitable communities. Its many tiny seeds can be added to container spells for growth, increase, abundance, fecundity.