The Many Uses Of This Common Plant Are Surprising

  • When chickweed is combined with other household items, it transforms into a powerful medicinal alternative. If you're not looking for a way to alleviate health problems, then it can add a unique flavor to your dinners or be used to attract bees and insects that pollinate other plants in your yard or garden. You'll soon realize that chickweed is anything but a weed.

    Where Does Common Chickweed Grow?

    Common chickweed tolerates sun or shade, wet or dry conditions, and pops up in disturbed soil such as gardens and lawns. Chickweed prefers rich, fertile soil. Excess fertility may encourage its growth. It prefers cooler temps to scorching sun, and is a winter weed in warm climate areas.

    In the book “Weeds, Control Without Poisons“, the author notes that chickweed often thrives on excess organic matter.

    Common Chickweed Identification

    Common chickweed can be best identified by its small white flowers, which have five petals that are so deeply divided that they appear to be ten. It's an annual in cool regions, but may act as a tender perennial in warmer areas.

    Wildlife Uses of Chickweed

    The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract primarily small bees and flies. Less common floral visitors include nectar-seeking butterflies and parasitoid wasps. In the absence of such visitors, the flowers of Common Chickweed can self-pollinate. Some insects feed on the foliage and other parts of Common Chickweed.

    Vertebrate animals also feed on Common Chickweed and other Stellaria spp. The seeds of such plants are eaten by the Mourning Dove, Chipping Sparrow, House Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow and Field Sparrow; the Ruffed Grouse also browses on the leaves.

    The foliage, flowers, and seeds are a minor source for various mammals, including the Cottontail Rabbit, Groundhog, and White-tailed Deer (Martin et al, 1951/1961). The seeds are able to pass through the digestive tracts of White-tailed Deer and remain viable, spreading Common Chickweed to new areas (Myers et al, 2004).

    Is Chickweed Edible?

    Chickweed is edible, and fairly tasty. I include it in my salad mixes when I'm out harvesting greens in the garden. The flavor is mild – even the stems aren't too chewy. Use it fresh and raw. It doesn't stand up well to cooking.

    Medicinal Uses of Chickweed

    Common Chickweed can be tinctured, dried, and made into poultices. Healing Wise states:

    The little star lady chickweed is a powerful nourisher to the glandular and lymphatic systems. Poultices externally, as needed, and twice daily doses of 40 drops of fresh tincture are used with other Wise Woman ways for those with thyroid irregularities, reproductive cysts, ovarian cancers, and testicular troubles such as cancers, swelling, burning, or itching.

    Keep reading for more uses for this amazing plant

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