Sticky Mouse-ear Chickweed Cerastium glomeratum
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Cerastium acutatum
- Cerastium glomeratum var. apetalum
- Cerastium viscosum
- Phonetic Spelling
- ser-RAS-tee-um gloh-mer-AY-tum
- Description
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Sticky Chickweed is an annual weed in the pink family and is similar to chickweed (Stellaria media) but has a more erect habit. The leaves and stems are hairy giving it a gray appearance. This weed can tolerate a wide range of soils in sun to partial shade and prefers well-drained moist to dry sites. It can be found in fields, lawns, along roadsides and other disturbed areas.
Blooming occurs in late winter to early spring. The plant then dies as the days grow hot. It spreads by seeds.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cerastium
- Species:
- glomeratum
- Family:
- Caryophyllaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Has been used in herbal medicine
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Asia, Europe
- Distribution:
- Much of North America
- Wildlife Value:
- A food source for birds.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 2 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 10 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Weed
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Prostrate
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Spring
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- A small capsule with tiny teeth splits open to disperse several seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Winter
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Clusters of 1/4 inch wide flowers with 5 green hairy sepals and 5 white 2-lobed petals.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Obovate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Up to 3/4 inch long ovate, obovate or oblong green leaves with sticky hairs on both sides giving it a gray appearance.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Erect to ascending green to purplish hairy stems
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Landscape:
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Problems:
- Weedy
