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Clammy Chickweed

Cerastium glomeratum (ser-RAS-tee-um gloh-mer-AY-tum)

Family: Caryophyllaceae Non-native Herbaceous (1-3 ft)

Sticky chickweed is an annual weed in the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae) native to Eurasia and has been introduced to other continents. It can be found in fields, lawns, along roadsides and other disturbed areas. This weed grows up to 18 inches tall and can tolerate a wide range of soils, from sun to partial shade, and prefers well-drained, moist sites. It can quickly form mats and spreads by reseeding. Sticky chickweed blooms late winter to spring with small clusters of flowers with 5 white petals and 5 hairy green sepals. After setting seed, the plant dies back, especially in hot climates. The stem and leaves are covered with both glandular and non-glandular hairs, giving it a whitish-gray appearance. Control is by hand pulling small infestations, mulching to prevent seed germination, mowing and post-emergent herbicides. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Susceptible to spider mites, mealy bugs, aphids, and thirps. Diseases include root rot and powdery mildew.

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 51 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Often confused with Stellaria media

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Annual; Weed
Life cycle
Annual
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
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 6 in. | Width: 0 ft. 10 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Prostrate; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Oblong; Obovate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Up to 3/4 inch long ovate, obovate or oblong green leaves with sticky hairs on both sides giving it a gray appearance.
Flower color
White
Flower form
Cyme
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Clusters of 1/4 inch wide flowers with 5 green hairy sepals and 5 white 2-lobed petals.
Bloom time
Spring; Winter
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
A small capsule with tiny teeth splits open to disperse several seeds.
Stem color
Green; Purple/Lavender
Stem detail
Erect to ascending green to purplish hairy stems
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Asia, Europe
Wildlife value
A food source for birds.
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Leaves
Harvest time
Spring
Fruit type
Capsule

Edibility

The leaves are edible

Uses (ethnobotany)

Has been used in herbal medicine

Landscape Use
Garden tags
#annual weed #hairy leaves #lawn weed #spreading #full sun tolerant #partial shade tolerant #hairy stems #annual #weedy #white flowers
Problems & Resistance
Problems
Weedy
Resistant to
Drought
Propagation
Seed

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.