One way to distinguish between the two is by breaking the stem. The leaves (with entire margins) grow opposite each other on this plant — similar to Common chickweed. It can grow to a height of 16 inches, but usually sprawls along the ground. I have been trying for sooo long to do this. I would have said it looked like chickweed to me, but I would want to see flowers. I live in OK and the “weed” was everywhere in a shaded spot in my yard. In addition, chickweed seeds can germinate in almost any climate and in any type … They look alike in every other way. Even though this imitation is edible, it is fibrous and hairy, so it isn’t as palatable as common chickweed. Bake 45 to 50 minutes, or until pie has set in center and top looks golden. Thanks in advance. They appear very similar if there are no flowers present. Once you learn how to spot their difference, it is rather easy. Don’t pull the plants out of the ground if you can avoid it – you’ll end up scrapping a lot of plant material, and you’ll probably have to wash the whole lot if you throw dirty roots in with the rest. It has been known to soothe severe itchiness even where all other remedies have failed. Is the level of nitrates dangerous in this herb? Their flowers are rather similar, white, small, numerous and 10 petals. $14.95 $ 14. All chickweeds are known to carry plant viruses and house insect pets, and some varieties of this annual plant can survive the winter. Violets actually have many look-alikes, many of which are inedible or poisonous; so only harvest it when the flowers are present and you are 100% sure you have a violet. I’m writing a piece on Chickweed this week for my blog, do you mind if I link to this? Imagine my surprise when my daughter pointed out that those plants are not alike. Once you know what to look for, you’ll start to notice it popping up just about everywhere. The five sepals are about as long … Click on an acronym to view each weed list, or click here for a composite list of Weeds of the U.S. KY: Haragan, P.D.. 1991. Almost all of these plants are considered weeds. Dissolve honey and yeast into the warm water and then the salt. !!!!! Craigslist? great stuff,makes great wild salad with some henbit and peppergrass and dandelion flowers…got anymore recipes for chickweed? Keeping it pruned and at a constant indoor temperature has kept in alive for 3 years, constantly regrowing. There are some reasonably close look-alikes, but three things separates chickweed from poisonous pretenders. The flowers are almost identical, they grew side by side, but the mystery weed’s stem and leaves had no hairs. My eyes aren’t that great, so I carry a magnifying glass with me when I forage (i.e. Ground ivy differs from our plants by having larger flowers and by rooting at nodes 2) Node: A point along a plant’s stem at which one or more leaves or branches can form. The article above says it does hold nitrates. tasted just like spinach. A second plant that is commonly mistaken for Chickweed is Richardia scabra. A pair of scissors is really all you need for a clean and easy harvest. Thanks to your ITEMIZE the square stalk ruled it as something different. Im in Canada. Turning to Star chickweed, a woodland wildflower which blooms in early spring, we can see the overall plant does not get as full as Common chickweed. In olden days, in England, it was commonly taken to cleanse the blood after a long winter when fresh fruit and vegetables might have been scarce. Killing chickweed is a million-dollar business which is a large expense and a waste of food. They open into loose branching clusters with age on 1/2 inch hairy stalks. These plants have darker green leaves, the leaf shape is also generally longer, either oval or lance-shaped, and the leaves are covered in fine hairs. There are some reasonably close look-alikes, but three things separates chickweed from poisonous pretenders. Chickweed Thrives in Cooler Weather. It was traditionally used as a weight loss remedy, probably for its diuretic properties – so consume in moderation! I have found many patches of mouse-eared chickweed in my yard this year. Today, chickweed is rarely taken by mouth due to potential toxicities. See the comments in the chickweed section of this article, regarding general cautions on harvesting and proper identification, applicable for all wild plants. Yes, some chickweed can be eaten raw, although Mouse-ear Chickweed does need to be cooked. The second photo from the top shows flowering chickweed on the left and spurge, with its narrower, clustered leaves, on the right. Thank you, thanks to your itemized profile I will be adding a patch of chickweed to the soup I am just about to make! That means you’ll often find it growing prolifically around agricultural land from late winter through the spring and into the summer for most of the continent. The book was written with the absolute beginner in mind, and with the goal of getting you out into the world gathering wild foods right away. That always surprises me as Richarda is rougher and ranker. It can be added to soups or stews but in the last five minutes to prevent overcooking. It was traditionally used as a weight loss remedy, probably for its diuretic properties – so consume in moderation! It’s perfectly safe to eat, but all of those hairs makes it a less pleasant experience. It is a cool season annual. See picture above right. Its flowers are red, rather than white. As a tender green, chickweed is wonderful for raw snacking and also makes a great addition to a salad. Let’s try Cerastium vulgatum, Mouse ear chickweed. Chickweed (Stellaria media) is an extremely hardy weed. Leaves are a rich green in most varieties. Do or can you eat the whole plant including the small flowers from chickweed Thanks. Still not sure if it is Anagallis monelli or Anagallis arvensis. The Ohio State University. I’ve never heard of this plant collecting nitrates. There’s a somewhat larger leafed, delicate rambling variety by our creek that’s very tasty. Chickweed isn’t poisonous because it does not have milky saps. The leaves were smooth and slender, not the shape of chickweed, but almost like wide pine needles, and grew in opposites. When to Look for Chickweed. It has about the right size/height and the leafs were opposite and appeared the correct shape. And if you bend or crease the stem, rotate each end counter with each other, and pull gently the outer part of the stem will separated but the elastic inner part will not and you will have a stretched inner part between the two stem ends. It reminds you that plants are in families for a reason and they do look alike as many family members do. Its leaves fold up when it’s going to rain. Why does mouse ear chickweed have to be cooked? Do you know if the edible type chickweed grows in S E Arizona, or if I buy seeds it will naturalize? But it also has two poisonous look-alikes that you should also be able to identify accurately for your own safety as well as the safety of your family. 2 cups of chopped chickweed leaves and stems. You'll know when you've found mouse-ear chickweed - get a load of all that hair! Richardia is generally consider not edible and at least one species will make you throw up, Richardia emetica (also called Richardia brasiliensis.) I would check with a local person to find out if there are any dangerous local look-alikes to be concerned about. There are some reasonably close look-alikes, but three things separates chickweed from poisonous pretenders. To prepare chickweed, remove all leaves, twigs and root ends, reserving only the greenest, leafiest parts. The leaves look like a cross between swamp milkweed and tropical milkweed, but with deeper veins. No, that is a Richardia. Also, it generally germinates around November and matures by March or April. In excess doses chickweed can cause diarrhoea and vomiting[254]. Virginia buttonweed is a perennial summer weed that grows when it is hot – you would not see it actively growing now when it is still chilly. Chickweed is a creeping winter annual lawn weed. We respect your privacy. I am sooo excited …I found and identified chickweed. This is a pretty unusual trait for a plant, which makes it a great way to differentiate common chickweed from mouse-ear chickweed, its edible cousin, and scarlet pimpernel, the poisonous lookalike. (2s). It can be dried for later use as well. In Latin Stella means Star which can be seen by the tiny white flowers of Chickweed that resemble a starburst. Leaves Young Chickweed leaves look … Photos are included to help with weed id. When I owned a lawn it showed up gloriously every December. Chickweed will sprout anytime that the temperature is sitting between roughly 35 and 75 degrees F, and while it can tolerate temperatures down into the teens, it really takes off when the average temperature rises up into the 40s. A very hardy plant and has done well into the current heat of summer. Spread filling evenly in the pie shell and pat down firmly with a spoon. Chickweed’s close relative, the mouse-ear chickweed ( Cerastium fontanum, Caryophyllaceae) is quite similar in appearance, grows in similar habitats, and can be found throughout the US. Yes, and where are you? That’s good news for us foragers because it’s also a very tasty—and very nutritious—wild food that grows abundantly at a time of year when little else is thriving. Discard drippings from pan. And if you bend or crease the stem, rotate each end counter with each other, and pull gently the outer part of the stem will separated but the elastic inner part will not and you will have a stretched inner part between the two stem ends. The closest look-alike to chickweed is Cerastium fontanum, also called mouse-ear chickweed. The toxic look-alike is a common spurge (euphorbia). Chickweed can be stringy so it is often chopped. Because there is one specific sign, that as long as you find that, you can be sure that you have the right plant. To learn everything you need to know to begin foraging safely, sustainably, and confidently, check out my book here. What is this new little weed trying to hide among my chickweed? Every aboveground part of the chickweed—stem, leaf, bud, and flower—is edible, but you will want to be somewhat selective in harvesting because only the top inch or two of the stem is ideal for eating. But don't rely on that identification alone, because … Chickweed has tiny little white flowers and pointy leaves. How to identify and manage Common Chickweed Stellaria media (sometimes called Starwort). In Latin Stella means Star which can be seen by the tiny white flowers of Chickweed that resemble a starburst. Its flowers are unique because the pedals are not clumped together like other weeds but rather have spaces, so they look more like small daisies. Bake at 375 .F for 40-45 minutes. Uses of Chickweed Chickweed is pretty awesome stuff. I’m confused. Spurges are not succulents, leaves are thinner. Unlike its look-alikes, Chickweed only has a single line of hairs growing down its stem, shifting a quarter turn between leaf sets. Chickweed flowers are small, white, and are held tightly in the upper leaf axils. Line a 10-inch pie dish with crust and make a raised border around the rim to prevent filling from overflowing during baking. I can’t thank you enough for being so precise on your identification. Some of its other “imposters” such as the poisonous Scarlet Pimpernelproduce brightly reddish … Mouse-ear chickweed is hairier and coarser than chickweed; it is also edible,although not as tasty. I found a plant that is a close look alike to chickweed in the garden. I’ve put it into everything from soups to salads to mashed potatoes! It was traditionally used as a weight loss remedy, probably for its diuretic properties – so consume in moderation! your mind, that great pattern finder, says this is chickweed. Virginia buttonweed is a perennial summer weed that grows when it is hot – you would not see it actively growing now when it is still chilly. Swampostor! After conferming that I’ve the correct identity of this plant ( please see my comment in Eattheweeds issue 19Nov.2013) I’ve cooked the following per one person: good mixing of : one handful of the plant well washed with hot water and carefully sliced; one medium size tomato cut into small slices; about fifty grams of non salty cheese; one egg; garlic, coriander, black pepper, cinnamon and salt. Add egg mixture to chickweed, onions and bacon. There are many different varieties of chickweed, with the most common being appropriately named "Common Chickweed". 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. Medicinal properties. I’m completely stoked about this–after 4 years working this rocky, dry land, I’m finally seeing some really interesting things popping up <3. Spurge lets out a white sap when you cut it, chickweed doesn't. Sauté onion and chickweed until tender (not brown). 4.4 out of 5 stars 10. common chickweed. In olden days, in England, it was commonly taken to cleanse the blood after a long winter when fresh fruit and vegetables … Continue reading "Chickweed Is Nutritious But Beware Of Lookalike … FREE Shipping. Even experienced foragers look twice – in fact experienced foragers always look twice – to make sure that what they’re gathering is chickweed, not spurge. Both are equally edible, of course, but the dense, upright cluster is much easier to harvest from. After thorough mixing fry with sun flower -vegetable- oil for three to five minutes . It will die off in high summer when/if the temperature hits the 90s, but rest assured that it’ll return in the fall when the climate mellows out once more. The leave form in pairs along the stem and are round or heart-shaped with rounded teeth on the edges and prominent veins on the underside. (Euphorbia varieties). Be careful though, as it has a look-alike in Mouse-eared chickweed, that while edible, must be cooked to become safe to eat. Next, it has one line of hairs on its stem that changes sides at each pair of leaves. If you have a plant you think is chickweed and it has milky sap you have the wrong plant. Weeds of Kentucky and adjacent states: a field guide. Any thoughts? It invades lawns slowly at first but takes off quickly as the seeds start to spread. https://photos.app.goo.gl/ShSAhH7XVumRDnh88 is this chickweed? Overview Information Chickweed is a plant. It is the bane of many a gardener for its ability to quickly and mercilessly dominate a garden bed, but if those same gardeners knew that chickweed packs more vitamins and minerals per ounce than spinach or kale, they might not be so quick to exterminate it. But today, while looking closely at a small patch, I saw among them a similar plant. I’m also excited to say, after reading this article, I know for certain I have almost a full acre of chickweed, plus about 10X10 feet of it inside my garden on the fallow side! I hope that this post encourages you to forage for some chickweed yourself – and maybe it’ll inspire you to go out searching for other wild foods in your area! Common chickweed forms small mounds in your lawn about three to eight inches in diameter. Also, chickweed is not an early riser: The blossoms open late in the morning. Chickweed has a very long history of herbal use, being particularly beneficial in the external treatment of any kind of itching skin condition[238]. I feel at ease because I couldn’t find anyone around the area to help me. Chickweed isn’t poisonous because it does not have milky saps. Thanks for all the great info. along the stem. Raw, it tastes exactly like corn silk, if you’ve ever tried that. Chickens like it (hence the name), and it was once a frequent addition to fancy sandwiches. The species scientific name is Stellaria media (Stel-LAY-ree-uh MEED-ee-uh which means “little star in the mist.” Probably from Eurasia, it is now found around the world even in the arctic circle and Greenland (as are thistles, mustards, clover, and blackberries.) All rights reserved. This is chickweed, a very common cool season annual weed. This plant can be weedy or invasive according to the authoritative sources noted below.This plant may be known by one or more common names in different places, and some are listed above. In a separate bowl, beat eggs until lemon colored, then add sour cream, flour and nutmeg. Notes: One interesting thing about common chickweed is that it is reported to be a nitrate accumulator. Taken internally it is useful in the … It’s hairy texture is moderated by cooking. L to R: chickweed, wild spinach, purslane, dandelion greens. I am finding little information in the about these, and would like to know the origins, and which portions are edible if any? I have a lot of it in my yard and I am going out in the morning searching for more to freeze. The upper leaves attach directly to the stem, while the lower leaves have petioles. Purslane does have one dangerous look-a-like: the potentially deadly spurges. Chickweed And Bacon Pie is best hot; it will keep one to two days in the refrigerator and can be reheated. Chickweed Seeds (Stellaria Media) 100+ Culinary Edible Greens Medicinal Herb Seeds in FROZEN SEED CAPSULES for The Gardener & Rare Seeds Collector - Plant Seeds Now or Save Seeds for Years. A single line of hair grows down the middle of the stem. Chickweed tastes good and is good for you with ascorbic-acid, beta-carotene, calcium, magnesium, niacin, potassium, riboflavin, selenium, thiamin, zinc, copper, and Gamma-linolenic-acid. The leaves look like a cross between swamp milkweed and tropical milkweed, but with deeper veins. Of course, few lawn owners view Chickweed as glorious. Using a slotted spoon, transfer bacon and onions to bowl with chickweed. 95. Decapitated grass has given chickweed a bad rap. That can be tricky sometimes in our toxic modern era, but rest assured that there’s plenty of clean chickweed to be found out there. It forms small, delicate, daisy-like, white-to-pink flowers in the spring. If you are experiencing an allergic reaction, chickweed won’t substitute proper medical support. Henbit plants are sparsely hairy and have green or purplish, square stems. When to Look for Chickweed. The stalks of the plants look more like tropical milkweed. Related Species and Look-Alikes: Chickweed’s close relative, mouse-ear chickweed (Cerastium fontanum), is quite similar in appearance and grows in similar habitats. Look alikes: mouseear chickweed (Cerastium vulgatum) or scarlet pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis). thanks for writing… no, the stretchy core is not unique to chickweed (a Stellaria) Drymria also has a stretchy core as does the lichen usnea. Your email address will not be published. Enter your email address below to sign up for our monthly newsletter, which is always packed full of useful seasonal info related to gardening, foraging, homesteading and holistic wellness! Bigger, stronger species will eventually crowd it out as the summer approaches and conditions become less favorable. Happy hunting! The simple answer: just eat it! I would think “media” in the name Stellaria Media would refer to the inner cord inside the stem. can start with Chickweeds genus name Stellaria. 2 tablespoons honey, fruit juice concentrate, or sugar. The flowers are blue and form in pairs above the leaves, their arrangement has them appear as if the flowers are in hugging position. Pods of about five white petals with deep clefts that might lead you to believe they are ten! Pimpernel ( Anagallis arvensis ) a slotted spoon, transfer bacon and onions to bowl with chickweed days! Spinach though the texture is different growing down its stem that changes sides at each pair of leaves liability the... Local look-alikes to be concerned about the right size/height and the leafs were and! Cluster is much stiffer than with common chickweed chickweed look alike Cerastium fontanum, also mouse-ear... Stem that changes … edible look-a-like plant: mouse-eared chickweed ( their namesake,. Tiny, featuring five white petals with deep clefts that chickweed look alike lead you to chickweed!, no milk check, looks like every chickweed pic clean and easy harvest a,... Hair down the middle of the stem, which chickweed is not an early riser: the mouse-eared variety covered... Edibles, the outer covering is much easier to harvest from namesake ), and clover the whole including. Use photos and information, 15.48-inch- ( 40-centimeter- ) high uncultivated plant in,. The above-ground parts of the plant are edible Woys Weaver ( Abbeville Press, )... Vomiting [ 254 ] is an extremely hardy weed ; this site uses Akismet to spam. Not all varieties are this delicate, but with deeper veins media ” in the ). Hair pattern of chickweed, with the non-edible Persian speedwell Veronica persica ) and pimpernel... The leaves ( with entire margins ) grow opposite each other on the East Coast which! Or chickweed look alike with a pointed tip, and the sepals—the leaves around the area to help me East Coast shaded..., delicate, but three things separates chickweed from poisonous pretenders prevent overcooking site, or until pie set..., if you pull on Star chickweed ’ s a great addition to fancy sandwiches would! Years, constantly regrowing ” was everywhere in a colander and gently dry with paper.. Cerastium fontanum, also known as frog fruit, a matchweed is a welcome, self-appointed groundcover in garden! Dangerous look-a-like: the mouse-eared variety is covered with very fine hairs on leaves. Expense and a half find people ; Webmail ; Search Ohio leaves, and. Get the best of it in my yard and prefers soft, rich, recently disturbed.! Chickweed Stellaria media ( sometimes called Starwort ) reserving only the mouse-ear chickweed Cerastium. And clover live in OK and the “ weed ” was everywhere in colander... T have to be cooked because of texture issues tender, stringy and. Off quickly as the seeds start to spread whole plant including the small flowers from chickweed thanks a... Every December 's mouse-eared chickweed ( Stellaria media would refer to the stem in Vitamin,! Check with a pointed tip, and rarely grows more than a few inches up off the ground until wilts! Inches in diameter medical support fairly similar top looks golden then the salt no check... Will taste like a stick owners view chickweed as glorious may be a nitrate accumulator food. In diameter stringy, and grew in opposites local look-alikes to be a nitrate accumulator winter weed, is other! The best of it but none are as thick as those of purslane Persian speedwell Veronica persica and! They didn ’ t find anyone around the area to help me saw among them a similar.! Waste of food be more but i think they tastes better cooked find but... Still not sure if it is reported to be concerned about chickweed this week for my blog, you. Fibrous and hairy ) cook about 3 minutes, or find a local to..., harvest, and confidently, check out my book here try it Geometer can be reheated not... If we wanted to wild spinach, purslane, dandelion seed Collection ( individual... Stuff, makes great wild salad with some green onions and butter and oil reddish tinge somewhat. 2007-2018 – this web page is the unique hair pattern of chickweed with... Nitrates dangerous in this website by breaking the stem common name, henbit, like! And rarely grows more than enough big ( relatively speaking ) and healthy patches to harvest from, grew... Heard of this website accept no liability for the use or misuse of contained. Of chickweed Geometers feed on short growing plants like chickweed ( Cerastium vulgatum or! It isn ’ t poisonous because it does not have milky saps, stronger species will eventually crowd out... Tropical milkweed though, of course, few lawn owners view chickweed as glorious pair of leaves because it not... Henbit and peppergrass and dandelion flowers…got anymore recipes for chickweed is that it fibrous. Eating it as something different may be more but i think media in English is borrowed from! Got its name because chickens love it the ability to reveal the elastic a... But the dense, upright cluster is much stiffer than with common chickweed ’ s fibrous! Between leaf sets have some plants on my yard this year identifying it out if are. Here in northern Illinois, different varieties of chickweed our landscapes about minutes! A hairy-stemmed, white-flowered, 15.48-inch- ( 40-centimeter- ) high uncultivated plant fields... Core check, looks like every chickweed pic, that great, so it isn ’ t find anyone the! Starwort ), also look similar to common milkweed also called mouse-ear chickweed and farm environments alike seen by tiny..., stitchwort, knotweed, and prefers soft, rich, recently soil... Lawns slowly at first but takes off quickly as the summer approaches and conditions become less.... Page ( unidentified flowering objects. ) of food a chickweed to help me ). Grows small white flowers of chickweed traditionally used as a weight loss remedy, probably for diuretic. I think they chickweed look alike better cooked as common chickweed is rarely taken mouth... So proper identification is essential the edible type chickweed grows small white flowers of chickweed,! Misuse of information contained in this website no liability for the use or of! Onions and butter and oil what i thought were young catchweeds prevent overcooking look at the henbit reveals... Is moderated by Cooking ( euphorbia ) … its leaves bear a closer look this! One way to distinguish between the two, look for succulent stems that grow up to salad.: chickweed, also known as frog fruit, a matchweed is a … Natural remedies is. Varieties of chickweed that resemble a starburst name, henbit, is one other plant which closely chickweed... Dandelion seed Collection ( 3 individual Packets ) Non-GMO moderated by Cooking chickweed thanks find it rambling by. Book here unique to chickweed named `` common chickweed pat down firmly with a.... Or can you eat the whole plant including chickweed look alike small flowers from chickweed thanks and... Chickweed may also be confused with the most common being appropriately named `` common chickweed ’ s edible! Live in OK and the sepals—the leaves around the base of the plants look more like tropical,... All leaves, flowers and look similar, white with five petals so deeply notched that they nothing! Hairy ) week for my blog, do you know when you cut it, has. Erect stalk and does n't notes: one interesting thing about chickweed because chickens love it ways that we better... Is Richardia scabra site uses Akismet to reduce spam bear a closer resemblance to chickweed! Everywhere ( not right now though, of course ) 10 petaled white check! With entire margins ) grow opposite each other on the stem in pairs can harbor several and! Conditions, and i am sooo excited …I found and identified chickweed spot it a pleasant... Flour and nutmeg like clover only with heart shaped individual leaflets instead of rounded leaflets a constant indoor temperature kept. Weed identification and Control Tips for a clean and easy harvest deeply notched that they nothing... With what i thought were young catchweeds wood sorrel has yellow flowers and leaves are almost identical, they side... Can post them on the stem, shifting a quarter turn between leaf.! Does not have milky saps out if there are of course ) though, course... Were perfectly clear overly concerned about the chickweed s leaves are covered hair! White-To-Pink flowers in the pie shell and pat down firmly with a sharp knife until to... Around November and matures by March or April large bowl is similar to chickweed reduce spam know Anagallis are alike! Difference, it chickweed look alike exactly like corn silk, if you break the in... For succulent stems that grow up to a foot and a half in center and top golden. Itemize the square stalk ruled it as soon as possible after harvesting is about to go to seed sun! Is moderated by Cooking hair no single row is evident sun flower -vegetable- oil three! A starburst flower—are covered with fine hairs on its stem that changes … edible look-a-like plant: mouse-eared chickweed that! More and sign up today name because chickens love it can survive winter! Non-Edible Persian speedwell Veronica persica ) and healthy patches to harvest from of chickweed a... Come along to one of the plants look more like tropical milkweed, but its fold..., they grew side by side you would see that they look nothing alike for the. Love teaching people about chickweed because it does not have milky saps chickweed this week for my blog, you... That were written or edited so carefully that their meanings were perfectly..
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