Stellaria pallida
Lesser chickweed, Lesser Chickweed
(c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: Annual · Not Native
Stellaria pallida (Lesser chickweed) is a non-native California annual in the Caryophyllaceae family, recognized by complete lack of petals and small sepals that stay small in fruit.
Lesser chickweed is a naturalized annual found in southern Northern California Coast, northern and central Sierra Nevada Foothills, Tehama/Western Transverse Ranges, Sacramento Valley, Central Coast, southern Coastal Ranges, southern Channel Islands, and Peninsular Ranges in oak woodlands, streambanks, and disturbed areas at elevations below 450 meters. Flowering in spring, this plant produces tiny white flowers in small, dense clusters. Growing prostrate to erect with slender stems 7 to 50 centimeters tall, it spreads across the ground with internode hairs in distinct lines. Its leaves are approximately ovate, 8 to 45 millimeters long, with flat, shiny surfaces often ciliate near the base. The plant produces small yellow to light red-brown seeds with conical tubercles, typical of its weedy, adaptable nature.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 8 sympatric species; key features are complete lack of petals and small sepals that stay small in fruit
Habitat and range
Habitat: Oak woodland, streambanks, grassy hills, flats, disturbed areas
Elevation: < 450(1500) m
California counties: Tulare, San Diego, Kern, Riverside, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, San Joaquin, Butte, Merced, Monterey, Sutter, Santa Barbara, Tehama, Glenn, Colusa, Mendocino, Contra Costa, Alameda, Fresno, San Francisco, Madera, El Dorado, Ventura
Outside California: Washington, Colorado, Arizona, Baja California, to eastern North America, native to southwestern Europe
Bloom period
Stellaria pallida blooms Spring.
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 pallida native to California?
No. Stellaria pallida is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Stellaria pallida bloom?
Stellaria pallida blooms Spring.
Where in California does Stellaria pallida grow?
Stellaria pallida occurs in Tulare, San Diego, Kern, Riverside, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, San Joaquin, Butte and other counties, at elevations of < 450(1500) m.
What plant family does Stellaria pallida belong to?
Stellaria pallida is in the Caryophyllaceae family, genus Stellaria.
What habitat does Stellaria pallida grow in?
Stellaria pallida grows in Oak woodland, streambanks, grassy hills, flats, disturbed areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · 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.