Stellaria neglecta aka Common Chickweed

Stellaria neglecta is also called greater chickweed. It belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family. Its native range spans Europe, temperate eastern Asia, and North Africa. The RHS confirms it is native to Britain and Ireland. Kew places it in the temperate biome, a broad climate zone. Plants For A Future lists it in several American states. These include California and parts of the southeastern United States. These records show where it grows, not its native range.

This small, short-lived plant is not a woody shrub. Plants For A Future calls it an annual. It gives a height of about 0.33 feet [0.1 metres]. Kew calls it an annual or biennial. Its life may thus span one or two years. The supplied sources give no width for a full-grown plant. They give no leaf, stem, flower, or fruit details for this species. The RHS lists some flower and leaf traits for the genus. These do not show the exact form of this species.

Greater chickweed grows by hedges, at woodland edges, and near streams. It grows in other shaded sites too. In gardens, it prefers soil that stays moist. It can grow in full sun or part shade. Sand, loam, and clay are all suitable soils. The stated soil pH range is mildly acid to mildly alkaline. These needs suit moist garden edges with some light or shade. The sources give no hardiness zone. They give no tested lowest winter temperature it can stand.

Plants For A Future places it in woodland and hedgerow gardens. Sites can include sunny woodland edges or spots with dappled shade. It says to sow seed in place in spring. The flowers have both male and female organs. Insects pollinate them. The supplied sources give no bloom season for this species. Plants For A Future reports no weed potential. The sources name no pests or diseases that affect this species.

You can eat the young leaves raw or cooked. Plants For A Future rates their food value at one out of five. It calls them food for times when other supplies fail. It lists no known uses as medicine or for other tasks. Its warning concerns saponins in other members of the genus. This does not confirm that greater chickweed has saponins or is toxic. The supplied sources do not establish a safety rating for this species.