and J. P. Herberger. The stems have a diagnostic band of hairs along one side and the bright green smooth leaves grow opposite each other on each node. The Regents of the University of California. This species produces flowers, fruits, and seeds from spring to early fall. In lawns, it rarely grows higher than 2 inches, but can be taller (4 to 6 inches) and less compact in gardens or under shaded conditions. Table 1 lists the active ingredient in herbicides that provided good control of chickweed in field tests and can be found in products sold for nonprofessional landscape and garden use. Deep, infrequent irrigation also discourages chickweed infestations. The seeds germinate from January to early March in cooler areas when soil temperatures reach about 59°F; the optimal temperature range is 54° to 68°F. Two species of chickweed, common (Stellaria media) and sticky (Cerastium glomeratum), are widespread in California. Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources Height 3-6" in sun; up to 18" in shade. Because of its ability to produce large numbers of seeds under cool temperatures, common chickweed rapidly colonizes any cool, moist area before winter or spring crops can become competitive. Chickweed stems are prostrate, spreading and much-branched, 5-50cm long, soft and bright green with swollen nodes (Figure 1). Common chickweed flowers (Ryan Kaldari, Wikimedia Commons) ... Life Cycle. Cultivation, including hand weeding, will effectively control chickweed if done early. It is an effective method for controlling many annual weeds including the chickweeds. Once chickweed flowers, it spreads its seeds, then the plant dies. Menu; Search. Germination can be in large numbers after an irrigation or rain. Prostrate, smooth stems are spreading and branching to form dense patches. Chickweed growth can last for many months, or depending on where you live, it may actually grow all year long, provided it doesn't get too hot or dry. It emerges in mid-to-late summer and completes its life cycle the following spring. Res., Publ. Soil Opposite, light green, rounded to egg-shaped leaves with pointed tips and smooth margins are hairless and short, hairy petioles. The biology and non-chemical control of common chickweed (Stellaria media L.). For noncommercial purposes only, any Web site may link directly to this page. Lawn Mature seeds can germinate without a dormancy period. Mature seeds can germinate without a dormancy period. Tufts. Annual or more usually perennial. Its full life cycle occurs in a period of one growing season (spring to fall). Germination can occur between 2°C and 30°C but the optimum temperature is 15°C. Common Chickweed, Stellaria media (L.) Vill.- "Mere Chicken Feed?" Follow fertilization guidelines as recommended for a particular turf species and avoid overapplication of nitrogen. Common chickweed is an annual weed, living for only one year. Chickweed should be controlled before it flowers. Weed Susceptibility Chart. top. Home gardeners should rely primarily on nonchemical control methods such as hand weeding, cultivation, mulches, and solarization when possible. Five white petals, deeply lobed giving appearance of 10 petals. Sticky chickweed (Cerastium glomeratum) is an annual with sticky hairs on the stems and leaves. Plant name: or try: advanced plant search. Res. Nondiscrimination Statement. Common chickweed is a winter annual that has smooth stems and leaves; can have several generations a year during cool wet seasons and forms prostrate dense patches in turf, landscape and vegetable gardens. Stems 1½ to 3 feet long. Effective control must target both aboveground and underground plant structures. As with the preemergent herbicides, information regarding plant safety and appropriate use of the herbicide can be found on the product label. Its adaptability to almost all environmental conditions makes common chickweed a very widespread and successful weed. Weed Life Cycles Annual Weeds An annual is a plant which germinates, flowers, sets seed, and dies within a single year. Stems are slender with upper portions growing erect. Defelice, M. S. 2004. $19741 donated. Thin, weak lawn, prefers poorly drained sites but common in a wide range of soils and conditions. Young leaves opposite, egg-shaped, pointed at tip. All contents copyright © Central Maryland Common Chickweed is a Winter annual broadleaf weed that is commonly found across Canada and the US. Common in turf. Leaves – Opposite arrangement, egg-shaped, pointed at the apex. Life Cycle: Annual. M… Some products can only be used in ornamental areas or turf and must not be applied to areas where food crops will be grown. Under this situation, the weeded debris should be removed. See Soil Solarization for details of soil solarization. All rights reserved. Plant status: Weed. 21377. Identification and Life Cycle. 8065. Fire Risk Rating: low flammability Wildlife Value: Attracts bees, butterflies and songbirds. Seeds can germinate during spring, summer, and fall. Common chickweed will grow in a wide range of soils but does particularly well in neutral pH soils with high nitrogen and poorly in low pH or acid soils. Similar to mouseear chickweed, but not perennial or hairy. Chickweed stem showing line of fine hairs. pot treat actively growing weeds with a liquid. Holm, L. G., D. L. Plucknett, J. V. Pancho, Seeds can germinate (sprout) soon after they disperse from the plant and require no further ripening as do seeds of many other weeds. Stems . It usually grows to 45 cm (18 inches) but becomes a low-growing and spreading annual weed in mowed lawns. top. Seed germination: Seed of chickweed are viable as soon as they are shed. See our Home page, or in the U.S., contact your local Cooperative Extension office for assistance. vulgare) can also be found invading turf. Foliage is opposite, simple, and ovate to elliptical. Products containing triclopyr will injure warm-season grasses like bermudagrass and kikuyugrass, but are safe to use in cool-season grasses like fescue. Common chickweed emerges in late summer (some emergence early in the spring), becomes dormant over the winter, sets seed in the spring/ early summer and dies. Common chickweed flowers ... Life Cycle. Krieger Publishing Co. Florida. Vegetable gardens also can utilize black plastic, both as mulch into which seeds or transplants are placed and also between rows. Cultivation when plants are large and soil is moist can lead to spread of the weed through re-rooting. Statewide IPM Program, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California Other than grazing by sheep and birds, there are no commercially available biocontrol agents for the chickweed species. However, regular monitoring and removal of plants from the site will prevent seeds from developing and accumulating in the soil (seed bank). Height(100-300mm). Pest Notes: Chickweeds The deeper the seeds are buried or the drier the soil, the less likely it is that the seeds will germinate or the seedlings will survive. Life Cycle:Winter annual, reproduces by seed and by creeping stems. In commercial situations common chickweed can limit winter vegetable production by competing for space, light, and nitrogen. Flower Details: Herbaceous. Life cycle: annual: Origin: native: Habitat: sun; seasonally wet rocky or sandy soil; grasslands, rock outcrops, roadsides, open woods: Bloom season: May - July: Plant height: 2 to 8 inches: Wetland Indicator Status: GP: FACU MW: FACU NCNE: FACU: MN county distribution (click map to enlarge): National distribution (click map to enlarge): Pick an image for a larger view. Chickweed germination decreases with depth of the seed. Life cycle. In both vegetable gardens and landscaped areas, mulches, cultivation, and hand weeding would be preferred. Weed Technology: 18:193-200. Contact webmaster. Description and Life Cycle: Bright green, mat forming low grower with multiple branches from central crown. Soil Solarization: A Nonpesticidal Method for Controlling Diseases, Nematodes, and Weeds. It flowers in spring and can produce seeds throughout the summer. Henry, J. M., V. A. Gibeault, and V. F. Lazaneo. Common chickweed is a prostrate or erect, somewhat succulent annual that often forms a dense mat. 1997. Bond, W. and R. Turner. Soil Solarization: A Nonpesticidal Method for Controlling Diseases, Nematodes, and Weeds, The biology and non-chemical control of common chickweed, © 2019 Regents of the University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, some vegetables, turf (some species when commercial product is packaged as a combination with benefin), spot treat in landscapes or broadcast spray in unplanted areas to prepare for planting, spot treatments in lawn or landscapes or broadcast spray in unplanted areas to prepare for planting, cool-season turf species (e.g., fescue), nonplanted areas. PDF reader. Chickweed usually germinates in autumn or winter and grows through winter and early spring; Chickweed is an annual, producing flowers and seed very quickly; Small seeds are easily dispersed in mud or dirt. FOR ALL OTHER USES or more information, read Legal Notices. Photos and information about Minnesota flora - Giant Chickweed: ½-inch white flowers, 5 white petals that look like 10, 5 glandular hairy sepals nearly as long as the petals. You may have chickweed sprout in May and die off by July, but … Patch-forming, prostrate winter annual. Homes, Gardens, Landscapes, and Turf > Germination can be in large numbers after an irrigation or rain. Common chickweed is a winter annual that has smooth stems and leaves; can have several generations a year during cool wet seasons and forms prostrate dense patches in turf, landscape and vegetable gardens. Can flower within a month and set seed within 2 to 3 months. How to Identify Stellaria media after they are shed. stems and leaves; stems root at the nodes and can form dense mats or mounds of stems and leaves; flower petals are about the same size as the sepals. Plantain. What is the life cycle of chickweed? Agric. The deeper the seeds are buried or the drier the soil, the less likely it is that the seeds will germinate or the seedlings will survive. For more detailed fertilizing information see the online UC Guide to Healthy Lawns, or download Practical Lawn Fertilization. Turning the soil over can reduce seed germination, but may also bring other weed seeds closer to the surface. That hasn't stopped certai… Life cycle. Weed Research Information Center. These are most effective when applied to weed seedlings. Additionally, common chickweed can serve as a host for insect pests such as lygus bugs and thrips as well as a reservoir host for tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) and cucumber mosaic virus (CMV). Postemergent herbicides are applied to weeds after they have emerged from the soil. REC, Western Maryland Flowers: Species dependent: Early spring or/and summer. summer or winter annual with peak germination in fall and early spring; thrives in temperatures between 53°F and 68°F; seedlings grow vigorously, flower and set seed within 5 weeks of germination; mature seeds immediately viable IPM Recommendations. It can start producing seeds within five weeks of germination and can continue to produce seeds for weeks or even months thereafter. Seeds will germinate at any time of year but particularly in spring and autumn. Look for a product with one or more of the following active ingredients: We embody the University's land-grant mission with a commitment to eliminate hunger, preserve our natural resources, improve quality of life, and empower the next generation through world-class education. fertilization methods. A spreading, mat-forming perennial with prominently hairy prostrate stems and leaves. Common Chickweed (Stelleria media) Life Cycle – Winter annual . It can be eaten raw or cooked as a vegetable and is often added to salads. Mouseear chickweed (Cerastium vulgatum) is a perennial with hairy stems and leaves; stems root at the nodes and can form dense mats or mounds of stems and leaves; flower petals are about the same size as the sepals. One plant can produce between 10,000 to 20,000 seeds. Postemergent products will injure any plant that is susceptible, including desired plants. Calif. Div. Seed leaves are rounded and lack hairs. Herbicides should only be used where the weed covers a very large area or where nonchemical weed management methods are difficult to adapt to the site. It is also useful as a food for canaries. Other postemergent herbicides listed in Table 1 are selective against broadleaf species and generally will not injure most grasses. It is important not to only remove the plants from the ground but also remove them from the site; common chickweed can reroot from stem nodes in moist areas. Chickweed can complete its lifecycle in 5 to 6 weeks. This information can help practitioners find the best strategies for dealing with weeds. Seed dispersed in spring; germinates in fall; remain viable up to 10 years. In landscaped areas, they should be covered with an additional layer of mulch (rock or bark) to reduce deterioration of the fabric by UV radiation. A summer annual is the most common life cycle for weeds that establish in Ontario. It is important to follow the label directions regarding application method. Acknowledgements Chickweed's use in folk medicine has been recorded as far back as the 16th century when it was often used to treat wounds.1 Over time, it was embraced as a "blood cleanser" or used it to treat asthma, constipation, menstrual pain, peptic ulcers, rabies, respiratory illnesses, and scurvy, among other common and uncommon conditions. Calif. Div. The likelihood of crop injury or application to plants that are not on the herbicide label is very high due to the wide variety of plants grown by home gardeners. Life cycle - winter annual (cool-season weed) that reproduces by seed. Solarization using clear plastic mulch is a method of heating the soil to temperatures lethal to seeds and other pests. **Be sure to read and follow the directions on the label if you choose to use an herbicide. This will prevent chickweed seedlings from getting established. Elmore, C. L., J. J. Stapleton, C. E. Bell, and J. E. DeVay. Using an organic mulch such as wood chips, at least two inches deep, will reduce the amount of weed seeds germinating by limiting light and serving as a physical barrier. If solarization is done in late summer and the soil is not disturbed, subsequent winter crops can develop a canopy and become more competitive before other winter weeds germinate. Mouse-ear chickweed (Cerastium vulgatum) is a prostrate perennial broadleaf weed in the pink family (Caryophyllaceae). Stems . Habit: Common chickweed is prostrate, and only grows upward by growing on top of itself to form small mounds. Preemergent herbicides must be applied before weed seeds germinate. … The stems are generally smooth except for a single, narrow lengthwise line (about 1mm, wide) of fine white hair on one side of each branch, this line of hair alternating from one side of the branch to the other on successive internodes (Figure 2). There are two types of annuals: 2019 Mouseear chickweed (Cerastium fontanum ssp. The leaves have an obvious pointed tip. Sticky chickweed is similar in appearance to common chickweed, but has a more upright growth habit. Foliage: Foliage is opposite, simple, and ovate to elliptical. Habit: Common chickweed is mostly prostrate, and often grows erect by growing on top of itself, forming small mounds or mats. Subscribe (RSS) The leaves as well as stem are hairy, giving the plant a grayer appearance. White 1½ inch flowers with 5 split petals that look like 10 petals; blooms in spring. Chickweed is an annual plant that competes vigorously with other plants. Foliage is generally glabrous (without hairs), although the petioles are hairy, and sometimes the base of the leaf is as well. Growth Habit – Prostrate. Mature seeds can germinate without a dormancy period. The label will also contain that information. With summer annuals, the seeds lie dormant all winter andgerminate in the spring. In turf, the primary method of control is to maintain a thick vigorous lawn. The seeds typically germinate at or very near to the soil surface. Life cycle. It is important for those managing lawns and landscapes to understand weed life cycles, growth, and reproduction. Unfortunately, we cannot provide individual solutions to specific pest problems. In general, nonchemical controls are the safest method for weed control in home gardens and landscapes. Common chickweed is a member of the Caryophyllaceae family and is generally classified as a winter annual. Most seed germinate within three yrs. Chickweed, Mouse-eared, Cerastium fontanum. It is most effective if the soil is dry and plants are small. UC Statewide IPM Program. Chickweed stems will root from nodesthat touch the ground which allow the plant to spread by forming dense, matted patches. Nat. Oakland: Univ. Common chickweed can complete its life cycle in 5-6 weeks. Both are winter annuals that grow easily in gardens, low-maintenance lawns, and agricultural areas. The World’s Worst Weeds: Distribution and Biology. Plants produce shallow, fibrous root systems and long, branching stems that grow prostrate along the soil surface and root at nodes. The numerous seeds are borne in capsules at the end of the stalk. Common chickweed plant. Contact UC IPM, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California, © 2019 Regents of the University of California top When growing without competition from other plants, common chickweed can produce approximately 800 seeds and it takes 7 to 8 years for the seed bank (supply of viable seeds in soil) to be 95% depleted, ensuring an infestation for many years. Both sticky and common chickweed are annual weeds. REC, Lower Eastern Shore Annual or winter annual reproducing by seed and by horizontally spreading leafy stems that root at the nodes. Chickweed can go from seed to flowering plant in 5–6 weeks. Chickweed also has a long history of herbal use in the external treatment of any kind of itching skin condition. Produced by IPM Education and Publications, University of California Statewide IPM Program. True leaves are opposite, rounded on the ends, and are sessile (attached to the stem without a stalk). Seed collected from separate plant populations may differ in … Leaves oval and pointed at the tip, smooth and shiny, opposite in pairs on stem. Share. Common chickweed is found in well-watered areas, but sticky chickweed can tolerate somewhat drier sites. All annuals spread only by seed. For professional landscapers, an herbicide can be helpful as a preemergent treatment when transplanting annuals for fall color or in woody perennial beds where mulches are not used. Common chickweed is known to be a reservoir for insect pests and plant viruses. The abundance of hairs, some with glandular secretions, gives the plant a sticky feel. Chickweeds. Accessibility   in the early spring. Propagation. The flowers are small with five white petals. However, if the soil is very moist, seeds can sprout at much higher temperatures. In turf and landscape plantings, common and sticky chickweed can be unsightly, reducing the aesthetic value. The seedlings will grow fast and mature in a … In cool, wet conditions common chickweed forms a dense mat of spreading stems that may root at the nodes. UC IPM Home > Cerastium Growing and Care Guide. REC, Glyphosate (Roundup®) Information and Alternatives for Weed Management, selective, postemergent, broadleaf weed killer. Secondary Noxious, Class 4 and Noxious, Class 5 in the Canadian Weed Seeds Order, 2016 under the Seeds Act. Monitor the soil surface for chickweed seedlings throughout late fall and winter and then remove them by shallow cultivation or by hand pulling. When cultural control methods cannot be used, such as on very large areas, in weakly growing turf, or in professionally managed landscapes, herbicides may be an alternative. Height: 2 to 18 inches (5 to 45 cm).Mat forming. Stems root at the nodes to form dense patches. The common chickweed, or stitchwort (Stellaria media), is native to Europe but is widely naturalized. This increases the difficulty of hand weeding or hoeing. 2002. The deeper the seeds are buried or the drier the soil, the less likely it is that the seeds will germinate or the seedlings will survive. UC Statewide IPM Program. UC ANR Publication 74129, Author: C. A. Wilen, UC Statewide IPM Program, San Diego County Common chickweed will flower throughout the spring, summer and fall. Germination is in early autumn. The leaves and flower of chickweed, Stellaria media. Caryophyllaceae Perennial Form / Appearance Mouse-ear chickweed forms dense, prostrate patches in lawns and gardens. Class 4 and Noxious, Class 5 in the U.S., contact local... And 30°C but the optimum temperature is 15°C annual ( cool-season weed ) that by... Weed, living for only one year cool-season weed ) that reproduces seed!, spreading and branching to form dense patches, University of California, mulches, and seeds from spring fall. 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Weak lawn, prefers poorly drained sites but common in a … Life cycle ; Propagation ; stems leaves!: winter annual reproducing by seed or by hand pulling reducing the aesthetic Value as with preemergent. Species produces flowers, sets seed, and solarization when possible, 2016 under the seeds lie dormant winter... Winter andgerminate in the pink family ( Caryophyllaceae ) it is important to follow the label if choose! To read and follow the label if you choose to use a PDF document, you may need to an. M., V. A. Gibeault, and often grows erect by growing on top itself! Known to be a reservoir for insect pests and plant viruses annual ( cool-season weed ) that reproduces seed. Mat forming low grower with multiple branches from central crown the optimum temperature is 15°C the will., or in the spring the product label soil surface and root at.! Mulch into which seeds or transplants are placed and also between rows pink family Caryophyllaceae... With pointed tips and smooth margins are hairless and short, hairy petioles fall or early winter of. Mat forming low grower with multiple branches from central crown plantings, common Mouse ear hairless and short hairy! Flowers in spring and autumn and 30°C but the optimum temperature is 15°C by rooting. Produce between 10,000 to 20,000 seeds produce seeds throughout the summer short, hairy petioles low-growing and spreading annual,. See if the soil over can reduce seed germination, but has a very short Life cycle fruits... Very near to the short period between germination and can continue to produce seeds the. Of hairs, some with glandular secretions, gives the plant a appearance. Seeds and other pests control chickweed if done early Value: Attracts bees, and... Safety and appropriate use of the herbicide can be difficult due to the surface and conditions eaten or.