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Cerastium viscosum - L.

Common Name sticky chickweed
Family Caryophyllaceae
USDA hardiness Coming soon
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Naturalized in waste places, fields and roadsides from S. Newfoundland to Florida and California[43].
Range Europe to E. Asia. Naturalized in N. America.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Moist Soil Full sun
Cerastium viscosum sticky chickweed


Larry Allain @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Cerastium viscosum sticky chickweed
USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. Vol. 2: 47.

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Cerastium viscosum is a ANNUAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft). The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Cerastium glomeratum Thuill. var. apetalum (Dumort.) Fenzl

Plant Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves  Shoots
Edible Uses:

Leaves and young shoots[179]. No more details are given.

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Anodyne  Astringent

The juice of the plant is applied to the forehead to relieve headaches[272]. It is also dropped into the nostril to treat nosebleeds[272].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in many parts of this country. It is likely to require a moist soil in light shade. According to some botanists this species is no more than a synonym for C. holosteoides.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - we have no information on this species but suggest sowing the seed in spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Afghanistan, Cyprus, Egypt (Sinai), Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Russian Federation-Ciscaucasia (Ciscaucasia), Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russian Federation (Dagestan), Turkmenistan TROPICAL ASIA: Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan EUROPE: Denmark, Faroe Islands, United Kingdom, Ireland, Iceland, Norway (south), Sweden (south), Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Russian Federation-European part (European part (w. & s.)), Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine (incl. Krym), Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece (incl. Crete), Croatia, Italy (incl. Sardinia, Sicily), North Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain (incl. Baleares), France (incl. Corsica), Portugal AFRICA: Portugal (Madeira Islands), Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Cerastium arvenseField Mouse-Ear Chickweed, Field chickweedPerennial0.2 0-0  LMHNDM01 
Cerastium fontanumChickweed, Common mouse-ear chickweed, Big chickweedAnnual/Perennial0.3 5-10  LMHSM200
Cerastium furcatum Perennial0.5 -  LMHNM20 
Cerastium holosteoidesCommon Mouse-Ear ChickweedAnnual/Perennial0.3 -  LMHNM20 
Cerastium semidecandrumLittle Mouse-Ear Chickweed, Fivestamen chickweedAnnual0.2 0-0  LMHNM20 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

43

Links / References

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