Chickweed

Description: The plant is a delicate looking, sprawling, European annual. It has small paired/opposite oval (or spade) shaped, toothless leaves. The leaves grow along its stringy, flexible stem. The tiny white flowers bloom at the ends of the plant accompanied by the leaves. The 5 flower petals look like 10 because the petals are so deeply cleft/indented. The plant usually grows in lush patches. The single most important identifying feature is the Mohawk style single line of hairs that run along the length of each stem segment. The cool thing is that the Mohawk line of hairs jumps to a different position on each stem segment!!

Edible Parts: The whole plant above the ground is edible. I'm not sure about the root. The plant has a very mild flavor. The flavor has been described as corn silk-like.

Notes: This plant first caught my attention several years ago when stepping out of the west side door of my home in DECEMBER!!! It was a lush carpet of green but at the time I didn't know what Chickweed was. I noticed how green and healthy it was in the winter. Most other plants are dead and brown in the winter. Chickweed really comes to life in the early fall when the lows at night get in the upper 40's.

In early March I found the tiny white flowers in bloom.

The Chickweed has more Zinc and Iron than any other domesticated plant.

Contributor:

JRH