Native Plants
Plant Database
Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.
Cerastium arvense
Cerastium arvense L.
Field Chickweed
Caryophyllaceae (Pink Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: CEAR4
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N), GL (N), SPM (N)
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 cow's horn. The very similar Mountain Chickweed (C. beeringianum), which grows at high elevations in America's western mountains, has green-edged bracts in the flower cluster.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: WhiteBloom 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 , WYCanada: 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.
Growing Conditions
Light Requirement: SunSoil Moisture: Dry
Benefit
Conspicuous Flowers: yesFind Seed or Plants
Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.
National Wetland Indicator Status
Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
Status: | FACU | FAC | FACU | UPL | FACU | FACU | FACU | FACU |
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR
Additional resources
USDA: Find Cerastium arvense in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Cerastium arvense in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Cerastium arvense
Metadata
Record Modified: 2013-06-21Research By: TWC Staff