Caryophyllaceae
Cerastium arvense

Field Chickweed

Mat with erect flowering stems. Plant does not flower first year. Leaves linear to widely lance-shaped, 1/3–1 1/2 in. long, with pointed tips, with little hair or hairless. Clusters of small leaves in axils of larger leaves on lower portion of flower stem. Single to few flowers atop stems. Flower white, 1/3 in. across, deeply lobed petals 3 times longer than sepals. Grows in moist shady places, meadows, bald rocky places, outcrops with thin vernal-wet soils, subalpine. Similar C. beeringianum does not have clusters of small leaves in axils of larger leaves.

  • Rarity: Common
  • Flowering Time: Late Spring, Early Summer
  • Life Cycle: Perennial
  • Height: 4--10 inches
  • Habitat: Meadow, West-Side Forest, East-Side Forest, Subalpine
  • Found In: Steens, Wallowas, Crater Lake Np, N Cascades Np, Mt. Rainier Np, Olympic Np, West Gorge
  • Native: Yes