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NAME: Chickweed

SPECIES / FAMILY:  Stellaria Media / Caryophyllaceae

COMMON NAME(S): chickenwort, craches, maruns, winterweed

CONDITIONS: cool-cold weather, sun-shade, moist
 

PARTS:	EDIBLE	TASTE	RAW/COOK	SEASON
All
Shoots
Leaves		bitter/sour	RAW/DRY/COOK	Fall-Spring
Buds/Flowers		bitter/sour	RAW/DRY/COOK	Fall-Spring
Fruits
Roots
Seeds		bitter/sour	RAW/DRY/COOK	Fall-Spring
Nuts
Pods
Stalk		bitter/sour	RAW/DRY/COOK	Fall-Spring
Bark

PORTION:  small-medium

COMMENT:  Love it boiled in water with salt to taste. It has a delicate texture and flavor, somewhat like spinach. Raw, not so much, because of the saponins. Best to forage before it flowers. // "Raw, it tastes exactly like corn silk, if you’ve ever tried that. Cooked it is similar to spinach though the texture is different. It can be added to soups or stews, but in the last five minutes to prevent overcooking. Unlike many wild edibles, the chickweed’s stems, leaves, flowers and seeds are all edible. It does hold nitrates and people with allergies to daisies might want to pass it by." (2)

CAUTION: Cook to minimize exposure to saponin and upset stomach. Should not be used during breastfeeding or pregnancy. (1)

NUTRITION/MEDICINAL:  "...tastes good and is good for you with ascorbic-acid, beta-carotene, calcium, magnesium, niacin, potassium, riboflavin, selenium, thiamin, zinc, copper, and Gamma-linolenic-acid."(2)

• https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-622/chickweed
• https://altnature.com/gallery/chickweed.htm
• https://www.herbalremediesadvice.org/chickweed-herb-uses.html

LOOK-A-LIKES:  related to edible mouse-eared chickweed

POISONOUS LOOK-A-LIKES: Scarlet Pimpernel https://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=anagallis+arvensis (Although listed as edible, concerns about its toxicity require caution)

OTHER USES: Chickweed has saponins and can be used to clean your hair, clothes, etc.. https://www.herbalremediesadvice.org/chickweed-herb-uses.html

SOURCE LINKS (may include nutritional and medicinal info, plus other uses):

1. https://pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?LatinName=Stellaria+media
2. http://www.eattheweeds.com/chickweed-connoisseurs-2    
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stellaria_media  
4. http://www.foragingtexas.com/2008/08/chickweed.html  (good photos)
5. https://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/c/chickw60.html  
6. https://www.tyrantfarms.com/chickweed-recipe-turning-common-weeds-into-gourmet-food  (recipes)
7. https://www.growforagecookferment.com/chickweed-pesto  (recipes)
8. https://foragerchef.com/chickweed  (recipes)
9. https://recipesfromthewild.wordpress.com/chickweed
10. https://www.herbalremediesadvice.org/chickweed-herb-uses.html