It impresses with beautiful, really lushly growing white flower pads and quickly forms carpets. Chickweed is evergreen and therefore also a wintery splash of color in the garden. But is the popular mountain chickweed from the clove family poisonous to humans or animals?
Is chickweed a poisonous plant?
Sandweed with the botanical name Arenaria isnot poisonous. Even if the hardy plant is accidentally consumed, there is no he alth risk to humans or animals.
Is chickweed poisonous to humans?
All parts of the chickweed are for humanscompletely non-toxicNeither the dark green leaves nor the white flowers from the Pyrenees and southwestern Europe (Spain, Portugal) as well The mountain sandwort Arenaria montana, which comes from Morocco and is very frequently planted in our country and requires little care, poses a he alth risk. The plants are absolutelysafe even for children playing.
What about different varieties?
There are no differences between the individual varieties, for example the Alpine sandwort, the eyelash sandwort or the purple sandwort with pink flowers that differ from the usual white: they are all just like the mountain sandwortnon-toxic and with their flowering period in summer are very suitable as plants in the rock garden.
Is chickweed poisonous to pets?
The easy-care chickweed is alsocompletely harmless for pets such as dogs, cats and hamsters who like to nibble on plants in the garden.
Tip
Creating a family garden in spring
If you have pets or children playing in the garden, you should of course make sure to only cultivate plants that are not poisonous and that are completely safe to accidentally nibble on. If you choose the flowering sandwort as a cushion perennial or ground cover, it should ideally be planted in early spring. Group planting in soil that is as loose as possible is recommended.
