Short-petaled mouse-ear
Cerastium brachypetalum · Caryophyllaceae
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant short-petaled mouse-ear: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Family
- Caryophyllaceae
- Plant type
- Annual or biennial herbaceous plant
- Blooming
- Spring to early summer (April to June)
- Adult size
- 15 to 30 cm in height
- Foliage
- Deciduous, fine and pubescent
- Hardiness
- Very hardy (down to -15°C)
- Exposure
- Full sun to partial shade
- Origin
- Mediterranean region and Central Europe
Care
Exposure
Install your mouse-ear chickweed in full sun or partial shade for optimal blooming. Bright exposure promotes compact growth and better flowering. This plant tolerates open, wind-exposed situations well.
Watering
Water moderately, allowing the soil to dry slightly between waterings. This species prefers rather dry soils and fears excess moisture, particularly in winter. Watering at the base limits the risk of fungal diseases.
Soil
Choose well-drained, poor to average soil, or even chalky soil. This plant adapts well to lean and rocky terrain, typical of its natural habitat. Add gravel or sand to improve drainage if needed.
Pruning and maintenance
Remove spent flowers regularly to extend blooming and encourage better branching. You can leave a few flowers to self-seed naturally if you want self-regeneration. At the end of the cycle, cut the plant back to ground level after fruiting.
Fertilization
Very moderate fertilizer or no fertilizer at all suits this frugal plant. Excessive feeding would favor foliage at the expense of flowering. If you enrich the soil, do so lightly in spring.
Diseases and pests
Mouse-ear chickweed mainly fears powdery mildew and downy mildew in humid and confined conditions. Ensure good air circulation and avoid excessive watering to prevent these problems. Aphids may sometimes infest young shoots but rarely become a serious concern.
Did you know?
The genus Cerastium takes its name from the Greek 'keras' (horn) referring to the elongated shape of its seed capsules. Mouse-ear chickweed was once used in rural European gardens as a spontaneous and hardy ground cover, before becoming a choice species for rock gardens and modern arid landscapes.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Smooth rupturewortHerniaria glabra
- Rock soapwortSaponaria ocymoides
- Snow-in-summerCerastium tomentosum
- Sticky CatchflyViscaria vulgaris
- Creeping baby's breathGypsophila repens
- Mountain sandwortArenaria montana
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.