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Native Plant Database

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Cerastium arvense (Field chickweed)
Bransford, W.D. and Dolphia

Cerastium arvense L.

Field chickweed

Caryophyllaceae (Pink Family)

USDA Symbol: cear4

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

A plant with several stems leaning on the ground, and a white flower blooming at the end of each of the few branches of the nearly leafless flower cluster. Below the point where leaves attach the stem are downward-pointing hairs, those in flower cluster tipped with glands.

Cerastium, from the Greek keras (horn), refers to the capsule, which is tapered and, in some species, bent slightly like a cows horn. The very similar Mountain Chickweed (C. beeringianum), which grows at high elevations in Americas western mountains, has green-edged bracts in the flower cluster.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Flower:
Fruit:

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: AK , AR , AZ , CA , CO , CT , DC , DE , GA , IA , ID , IL , IN , KY , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , MT , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NV , NY , OH , OR , PA , RI , SD , TN , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV , WY
Canada: AB , NB , NS , PE
Native Distribution: Northern Hemisphere; south in the West to northern California, northern Arizona, and southern New Mexico.
Native Habitat: Open, generally grassy areas from near the coast to high in the mountains.
USDA Native Status: L48(NI), AK(N), CAN(NI), GL(N), SPM(N)

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Cerastium arvense in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Cerastium arvense in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Cerastium arvense

Metadata

Record Modified: 2010-06-01
Research By: TWC Staff

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