Sticky mouse-ear
Cerastium glomeratum · Caryophyllaceae
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant sticky mouse-ear: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Flowering
- April to June
- Adult size
- 15 to 30 cm in height
- Growth
- Fast
- Hardiness
- Very hardy (down to -15°C)
- Origin
- Europe
- Soil type
- Well-draining soil, tolerates limestone
Care
Watering
Water moderately, especially during the growing season. This plant prefers soil that's slightly dry to moist and tolerates dry periods well once established. In winter, reduce watering.
Light exposure
Place your mouse-ear chickweed in full sun or partial shade. It appreciates good light for abundant flowering, but also tolerates partially shaded locations.
Soil preparation
Prepare well-draining, poor to average soil with good drainage to prevent waterlogging. Adding sand or gravel improves drainage. Mouse-ear chickweed adapts well to limestone and rocky soils.
Pruning and cleanup
Remove spent flowers to extend the flowering period. After flowering, you can lightly prune the plant to maintain a compact shape. Remove dried or damaged parts in spring.
Fertilizing
Undemanding, mouse-ear chickweed requires only a light feeding in spring. A balanced, low-nitrogen fertilizer is sufficient. Avoid overfeeding, which would promote foliage at the expense of flowering.
Diseases and pests
Watch out for powdery mildew in humid weather: improve air circulation and avoid wetting the foliage. Scale insects and aphids may occasionally affect it. Well-draining soil helps prevent root rot.
Did you know?
Mouse-ear chickweed gets its scientific name "glomeratum" (clustered) from its flowers, which develop in small, tight clusters at the tips of the stems. In Europe, this pioneer plant naturally colonizes rocky areas and wastelands, playing an important ecological role in stabilizing disturbed soils and providing a food source for spring pollinators.
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.