Cerastium holosteoides
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Cerastium fontanum ssp. vulgare
- Cerastium vulgatum L.
- Phonetic Spelling
- ser-RAS-tee-um hol-os-tee-OY-deez
- Description
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Mouseear chickweed is a cool-season annual or short-lived perennial in the Caryophyllaceae (carnation) family. Native from temperate and subarctic Eurasia to New Guinea. It grows rapilidy to 1 foot tall and wide.
It grows in full sun in moist, sandy, loam or even heavy clay soils. Distinctly hairy stems and leaves are dark green in color. The flowers are very similar to common chickweed, white with 5 split petals.
Mouseear chickweed forms dense mats and may climb into crop canopies. Plants are prolific seeders. Seedlings emerge primarily from fall through spring, but in cooler, moist areas may continue to emerge throughout the summer. Well managed by most preemergence herbicides labeled for use.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Brown spot, root rot, powdery mildew, fungal lef spots and rusts. Pests include aphids, spider mites, slugs and snails, mealybugs and whiteflies.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cerastium
- Species:
- holosteoides
- Family:
- Caryophyllaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 3 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 3 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Weed
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are very similar to common chickweed, white with 5 split petals
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Soft
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are hairy, dark green in color, opposite and bluntly pointed
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Hairy stems
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Landscape:
- Problems:
- Weedy
