Stellaria neglecta
Greater chickweed, Greater Chickweed
(c) Mykola Borysenko, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Mykola Borysenko · licence
Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: Annual · Not Native
Stellaria neglecta (Greater chickweed) is a non-native California annual in the Caryophyllaceae family, recognized by larger size, broadly ovate leaves, large hairy glandular sepals.
Greater chickweed is a naturalized annual herb found in the North Coast Ranges, Tehama County, Central Valley, San Francisco Bay Area, southern California Coast, San Gabriel Mountains, and Peninsular Ranges in disturbed areas, fields, and cultivated areas at elevations below 400 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces white flowers with five delicate petals about half the length of its sepals. Growing with ascending to erect stems 30 to 60 centimeters tall, it develops a slender taproot and stems with distinctive line-arranged hairs between leaf nodes. Its broadly ovate leaves are 8 to 50 millimeters long, often with ciliate margins near the base and a shiny, flat appearance. The plant produces brown or purple-brown seeds with small conical tubercles, particularly noticeable along the seed margins.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species; key features are larger size, broadly ovate leaves, large hairy glandular sepals
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas, fields, cultivated areas
Elevation: < 400(600) m
Outside California: southeastern North America, native to Europe
Bloom period
Stellaria neglecta blooms Mar-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Cerastium: Stellaria has smooth to lightly hairy leaves; Cerastium is densely hairy and grayish-fuzzy throughout.; vs Parietaria: Stellaria has white flowers with visible petals; Parietaria has tiny greenish flowers hidden in leaf clusters.; vs Euphorbia: Stellaria has separate white flowers; Euphorbia has cup-like cyathia with milky sap when stems break.; vs Claytonia: Stellaria has deeply split petals creating star shape; Claytonia has unlobed rounded petals.; vs Polycarpon: Stellaria has stalkless pointed leaves; Polycarpon has spoon-shaped leaves with obvious stalks.
Frequently asked questions
Is Stellaria neglecta native to California?
No. Stellaria neglecta is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Stellaria neglecta bloom?
Stellaria neglecta blooms Mar-May.
What plant family does Stellaria neglecta belong to?
Stellaria neglecta is in the Caryophyllaceae family, genus Stellaria.
What habitat does Stellaria neglecta grow in?
Stellaria neglecta grows in Disturbed areas, fields, cultivated areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.