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Cerastium holosteoides is often confused with:
Stellaria media Stellaria media
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Epilobium hirsutum Pink petals have a notch at the top.
Ranunculus sardous Plants in Bloom
Vitex rotundifolia Flowers

Mouseear Chickweed Cerastium holosteoides

Previously known as:

  • Cerastium fontanum ssp. vulgare
  • Cerastium vulgatum L.
Phonetic Spelling
ser-RAS-tee-um hol-os-tee-OY-deez
Description

Mouseear chickweed is 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.

 

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#high maintenance#fast growing#hairy leaves#annual weed#cool season weed#hairy stems#clay soils tolerant#weed#cpp
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#high maintenance#fast growing#hairy leaves#annual weed#cool season weed#hairy stems#clay soils tolerant#weed#cpp
  • 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.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Weed
    Habit/Form:
    Dense
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    High
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Sand
    Soil Drainage:
    Moist
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    White
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Description:
    Flowers are very similar to common chickweed, white with 5 split petals
  • 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
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    Hairy stems
  • Landscape:
    Problems:
    Weedy