Large Field Chickweed
Cerastium velutinum var. velutinum
Don’t let the name ‘chickweed’ fool you, this native perennial groundcover is the showiest member of its genus in our region, and a far cry from the non-native invasive species you are probably weeding from your gardens right now. This little creeper is so drought tolerant it can practically grow on bare rock but is also adaptable to normal and even moist soil as well. The delightful white flowers rise up several inches from the mat of weed suppressing foliage in the spring. Rarely cultivated and almost never offered, our plants were propagated from seeds collected from our preserves.
Conditions: Full sun; dry to average to moist soil
Size: 3″ – 5″ tall, 18″ wide
Zone: 5 – 8
Wildlife Value: Flowers attract small carpenter bees, mason bees, and halictid bees with pollen and nectar; seeds are eaten by small rodents such as deer mice.
