Cerastium diffusum
Dark green mouse-ear chickweed, Dark Green Mouse-Ear Chickweed
no rights reserved, uploaded by Robert H. Wardell · CC0
Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Cerastium diffusum (Dark green mouse-ear chickweed) is a non-native California herb in the Caryophyllaceae family, recognized by 4-parted flowers and habitat.
Dark green mouse-ear chickweed is a naturalized annual found in the northern California coastal region (Mendocino County) in coastal sand habitats at elevations below 10 meters. Flowering in spring, this plant produces white flowers with petals 3 to 5 millimeters long, slightly shorter than the sepals. Growing 12 to 30 centimeters tall with ascending to erect stems that are distinctively glandular-hairy, it spreads with a delicate, branching form. Its leaves are spoon-shaped or ovate-elliptic, measuring 5 to 12 millimeters long on the flower stems. The fruit reaches 6.5 to 8 millimeters in length, bearing small seeds approximately 0.5 to 0.7 millimeters.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; distinguished by 4-parted flowers and habitat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal sand
Elevation: < 10 m
Outside California: Illinois, Missouri, native to Europe
Bloom period
Cerastium diffusum blooms Spring.
How to tell it apart
vs Stellaria: Cerastium capsules are cylindrical and curved; Stellaria capsules are round and straight.; vs Limnanthes: Cerastium has tiny white flowers with cylindrical capsules; Limnanthes has showy bowl-shaped flowers with separate nutlets.; vs Pseudostellaria: Cerastium has fuzzy leaves and curved capsules; Pseudostellaria has smooth leaves and straight capsules.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cerastium diffusum native to California?
No. Cerastium diffusum is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Cerastium diffusum bloom?
Cerastium diffusum blooms Spring.
What plant family does Cerastium diffusum belong to?
Cerastium diffusum is in the Caryophyllaceae family, genus Cerastium.
What habitat does Cerastium diffusum grow in?
Cerastium diffusum grows in Coastal sand.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.