Species library · Plants & herbs

Foraging Chickweed

Stellaria media

Typically in season from March to November, peaking around March to May in the northern hemisphere. Found in Disturbed ground, Grassland. Has toxic lookalikes, so check carefully.

Chickweed (Stellaria media)

Photo: (c) Pablo, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Pablo · iNaturalist

When Chickweed is in season

Typical window in the northern hemisphere, peak March to May. The southern hemisphere runs about six months offset, and your own timing depends on local weather, so check your town.

→ Everything in season to forage in September

Where it grows

Chickweed is usually found in Disturbed ground, Grassland.

⚠ Look-alikes & safety

Toxic look-alikes: scarlet pimpernel, petty spurge, common mouse-ear chickweed. Only forage with a confident ID.

Take Chickweed into the field

Open Chickweed in the Forage app for its full field guide entry with more photos, key features and toxic lookalikes to check against. Add it to your watchlist and the app pings you the moment it comes into season at your exact spot, worked out from live weather, elevation and billions of occurrence records.

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Chickweed: common questions

When is Chickweed in season?

Chickweed is generally in season from March to November, with its peak around March to May in temperate northern regions. The exact timing shifts with latitude, elevation and each year's weather. Check the Season Finder for your own location.

Where does Chickweed grow?

Chickweed is usually found in Disturbed ground, Grassland.

Is Chickweed safe to forage?

Toxic look-alikes: scarlet pimpernel, petty spurge, common mouse-ear chickweed. Only forage with a confident ID. Never eat any wild plant, berry, nut or mushroom unless you are completely certain of the identification. Check every find against a reliable field guide, and when in doubt, don't.

One note before you head out

Forage helps you discover and identify wild plants, but identification is never 100% certain. Many edible plants have toxic lookalikes. Never eat anything you find based only on what this app tells you. Always confirm with a field guide, an experienced forager or a local expert. The season score tells you where to look, too: it’s not a guarantee. Mind conservation law and property rights as well.

Species photos via Wikimedia Commons and iNaturalist · full credits