Beginner
skill rating
Online Garden Tools
Useful videos
Cerastium fontanum (Common mouse-ear)
Comment on a listing
Plant supplier links
- Login to upload a photo
1 hour care
per year
per year
0.3m
Max height
Max height
1.5m
Max spread
Max spread
2-5 years
To maturity
To maturity
Plant details
Botanical name
Cerastium fontanum
Other names
Common mouse-ear, Chickweed
Genus
Cerastium Cerastium
Species
C. fontanum - C. fontanum is a mat-forming, short-lived perennial, rarely an annual, and usually considered to be a weed. Green or purple, widely spreading stems bearing variably-shaped, mid-green leaves including ovate, oblong or lance-shaped, with a prominent central vein. Hairy buds open to flattened clusters of small, white flowers, intermittently from late spring to early autumn.
Cerastium fontanum is: Deciduous
Habit
Spreading
Flower
White in Spring; White in Summer; White in Autumn
Foliage
Mid-green in Spring; Mid-green in Summer; Mid-green in Autumn
How to care
Watch out for
Pests
Generally pest-free
Diseases
Generally disease free
General care
Propagation
Sow seed in a cold frame in spring.
Propagation methods
Seed
Sign up for your FREE ACCOUNT today or login to receive detailed monthly care instructions
Where to grow
Cerastium fontanum (Common mouse-ear) will reach a height of 0.3m and a spread of 1.5m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Banks and Slopes, Beds and borders, Cottage/Informal, Drought Tolerant, Gravel, Ground Cover, Low Maintenance
Cultivation
Grows in full sun or partial shade in moist but well-drained or well-drained soil. Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
South, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
Companion plants
We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant.
Botanical name
Cerastium fontanum
Other names
Common mouse-ear, Chickweed
Genus
Cerastium Cerastium
Species
C. fontanum - C. fontanum is a mat-forming, short-lived perennial, rarely an annual, and usually considered to be a weed. Green or purple, widely spreading stems bearing variably-shaped, mid-green leaves including ovate, oblong or lance-shaped, with a prominent central vein. Hairy buds open to flattened clusters of small, white flowers, intermittently from late spring to early autumn.
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Spreading
Create your free Shoot garden
Create your free SHOOT garden and make a record of the plants in your garden.
Add your own photos, notes, get monthly email reminders on how to care for your plants, and connect with other gardeners. Get started now.
Colour
Flower
White in Spring; White in Summer; White in Autumn
Foliage
Mid-green in Spring; Mid-green in Summer; Mid-green in Autumn
How to care
Watch out for
Pests
Generally pest-free
Diseases
Generally disease free
General care
Propagation
Sow seed in a cold frame in spring.
Propagation methods
Seed
Monthly care advice
Get access to monthly care advice
Create a free SHOOT account and get instant access to expert care advice for this and other plants in your garden.
You'll also receive handy monthly email reminders of what needs doing. Create your free account.
Where to grow
Cerastium fontanum (Common mouse-ear) will reach a height of 0.3m and a spread of 1.5m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Banks and Slopes, Beds and borders, Cottage/Informal, Drought Tolerant, Gravel, Ground Cover, Low Maintenance
Cultivation
Grows in full sun or partial shade in moist but well-drained or well-drained soil. Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
South, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
USDA zones
Zone 10, Zone 9, Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6, Zone 5, Zone 4, Zone 3
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types) | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Moist but well-drained, Well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Partial Shade, Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | South, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Exposed, Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Hardy (H4) | Tell us... |
ARTICLES WITH THIS PLANT
By garden designer Kate Savill & Tamara Bridge. Inspired by its home on Falls Farm in Northamptonshire, ‘The Warner Edwards Garden’ reflects the surrounding landscape of the farm. read more
Report content or feedback to Shoot
To add ? to your lists,
login to your account or subscribe.
Find out more about plant lists here
or Login
To add notes for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To add images for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To check if this plant is suitable for your garden first login to your account or subscribe.
or Login