Chickweed Seeds
Chickweed, also known as
Stellaria media, Starweed, Star Chickweed, Passerina, Common Chickweeds, Star Chickweed, and
Mouse-ear Chickweed, is native to Europe and it grows across North America.
The leaves of the
Chickweed plant are high in calcium and potassium and taste great in salads. A poultice made from the leaves are also used to treat inflammation, ulcers and abscesses.
The
Chickweed plant has a very interesting trait: it "sleeps". Every night the leaves of this plant fold over the tender buds and the new shoots. This unique behavior has given
Chickweed the nickname the 'Plant of Sleep' .
Chickweed provides early spring seeds for birds. The whole plant is edible and nutritious and can be used as a leaf vegetable.
Chickweed leaves can be added raw to any salad. Chickweed is known to contain vitamin C, minerals, a fixed oil, and some saponin. It is tonic, diuretic, expectorant, and slightly laxative.
Chickweed is one of the ingredients in a symbolic dish consumed in the Japanese spring-time festival. It is also used for making tea.
Chickweed is also very competitive with small grains due to it's heavy seed sets.
"The Encyclopedia of Edible Plants of North America: Nature's Green Feast" by Francois Couplan, Ph.D. has this to say about
Chickweed.
"S. media - introduced from Europe - is undoubtedly one of the best wild salads. Leaves and stems are tender and juicy with a delicate nutty flavor, and the plants are easy to gather in large quantities. Chickweed also makes an excellent potherb. The tiny seeds are also edible, but are tedious to gather.
Also available:
Adonis Flower Seeds
Damiana Seeds
Blue Vervain Seeds
