Giant Chickweed Stellaria pubera

Stellaria pubera, or Star Chickweed, is a perennial herbaceous wildflower in the carnation family about 6 to 12 inches tall and sparingly branched. Of all the Chickweeds, Star Chickweed is probably the most attractive due to its star-shaped white flowers. It is in leaf all year, in flower all year, and the seeds ripen all year. The plant produces both fertile and infertile shoots. Infertile shoots develop later in the year and don't produce flowers. The central stem of each fertile shoot produces a terminal cyme of flowers; occasional individual flowers may develop from the axils of the upper leaves. The blooming period occurs from mid- to late spring and lasts about a month. The root system consists of a taproot with slender fibrous roots. Small colonies of plants are occasionally formed.

Star Chickweed prefers dappled sunlight to light shade during the spring, followed by light to medium shade. The soil should be well-drained but consistently moist, with an abundance of organic matter and a layer of decaying leaves. It should also be somewhat acidic. The plant is easy to grow and can be very lush and vigorous when grown in a fertile soil, but in infertile soils it will flower and set seed while still very small. A very common garden weed, the flowers open in the morning and remain open for about 12 hours. They do not open in dull weather. The leaves fold up of a night time, enfolding and protecting the tender buds of new shoots. 

Young leaves can be eaten raw or cooked or added to salads. The cooked leaves can scarcely be distinguished from spring spinach. The leaves contain saponins so some caution is advised. The seed can be ground into a powder and used in making bread or to thicken soups. Young shoots and tender tips of shoots can be eaten raw, cooked, or dried for tea. Chickweed has a long history of herbal use, being particularly beneficial in the external treatment of any kind of itching skin condition.

Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems:

No known diseases or other problems. The leaves contain saponins, which, although toxic, are very poorly absorbed by the body and tend to pass through without causing harm. They are also broken down by thorough cooking.