The starry flowers are usually the first indication that this common hedgerow and roadside plant is present. The longish, pointed, stalkless leaves and thin , weak, square stems often go unnoticed among the grass. It can be distinguished from other stitchworts by the roughness of the edges of the leaves and stems.

It is in the same Genera as the Chickweeds as can be seen by the similarity of the flowers, but it is not usually a problem for gardeners and is included here for comparison.