In protected areas, common chickweed may persist throughout the summer . It prefers moist , shady areas, where it spreads readily, impeding normal turf growth. Its creeping growth habit allows dense patches to form, competing well with the existing turf. In dormant , warm-season turfgrasses, common chickweed can spread extensively . The leaves are a bright shiny green , rounded and tapered to a point, borne opposite each other on hairy stems.
Stem nodes touching the ground take root to form new plants.
Common chickweed flowers are white with five deeply notched petals. They are extremely small but conspicuous. Purple deadnettle is a winter annual that occurs throughout the United States. It is generally more prevalent in fertile , moist soils. Purple deadnettle is more erect than henbit and can grow from 6 to 18 in. in height.