Chickweed is a global plant that started in Eurasia and with human help has now conquered the world. It has also conquered my greenhouse and all my potted plants. I don’t particularly mind this weed except when it completely overwhelms more delicate potted treasures. It is easy to remove because all of its growth comes from single stem at ground level–I can just clip it off there with some fingernails and I’ve slowed down its takeover for another month or two.

Chickweed is edible and doesn’t taste bad–its pretty bland. I can eat it right out of my pots. However, it can be toxic if you eat too much and there isn’t a lot of guidance about what too much means.

I try hard to clip all the plants back in the greenhouse and pots before they go to seed to slow them down, but so far I haven’t gotten anywhere–they come up in spring and again in fall in virtually any open ground.

My future plans for these plants are to keep after them and admire their tenacity.