Native Plants with Flowers

Ian Gardner

Chickweed: A Salad In Your Yard

Common Chickweed (Stellaria media) is an exotic winter annual (aka weed). It germinates in the fall, grows slowly throughout winter, and blooms whenever it gets a warm, sunny day through spring. Once the hot summer sun beats down, the chickweed breaks down and dies. This is the life of a winter annual. Most of them are considered weeds and pulled, sprayed, or mowed. But many of them are edible too! And few are more abundant, tasty, or nutritious than CommonChickweed.

Common Chickweed can be identified by its low sprawling habit, opposite leaf arrangement, and smooth elliptical leaves. It’s tiny flowers also have 10 petals. Other look-a-like plants will have hairy leaves or stems, or milky sap when broken. And always remember to have an expert help you identify a plant before you harvest it for the first time. There are old foragers and there are bold foragers, but no old and bold foragers!

Chickweed

Common Chickweed is wonderful raw or cooked and is a great source of vitamins and nutrients.I like to use it like pea sprouts when its raw. It’s great as a garnish on nearly any dish, or added to salad. The flavor is very similar to corn silk, mild and floral. sautée or add to soups just like you would spinach. Common Chickweed is an excellent source of fiber, Vitamin A and C, Iron,Calcium, and Potassium.

Now is a perfect time walk around your yard and look for this plant growing in moist shady areas of your yard or garden beds. And only harvest it where you know pesticides haven’t been used.

Chickweed