Early Cudweed Gamochaeta purpurea
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Gnaphalium purpureum
- Phonetic Spelling
- gam-oh-KY-ay-ta pur-PUR-ee-uh
- Description
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Early cudweed is a native annual or biennial in the Asteraceae (daisy family). It can be found in coastal areas, grasslands, forest edges, fields, weedy gardens, waste places, along roadsides, and in disturbed areas and flowers its first year. It is native to North America but is considered a winter annual weed in other parts of the world. In some states, such as Massachusetts, it is considered endangered and is protected.
The fuzzy erect stems grow to 1 foot with soft gray-green leaves that form small basal rosettes and are alternate on the stem. Its roots are shallow and fibrous and sometimes have a taproot. The flowers are disc flowers only with no rays. It is a host plant for the American lady butterfly. Herbivores will browse the leaves.
This plant is often found in sandy dry soils and prefers full sun. It will tolerate sites that are occasionally wet.
This is the least weedy of the Gamochaeta plants and it is sometimes confused with Gamochaeta pensylvanica or Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. However, it is becoming endangered in some areas partially to being crowded out by non-native weeds.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Gamochaeta
- Species:
- purpurea
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- It was used by Native Americans as a tea for colds and flu.
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Biennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North America
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , AZ , CA , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , HI , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MO , MS , MT , NC , NJ , NM , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , WI , WV Canada: ON
- Wildlife Value:
- host plant for the American lady butterfly
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Larval Host
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Native Plant
- Weed
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Very Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Achenes are tan in color, bullet shaped, 0.5 mm long and slimy when wet. They are topped with bristly pappus fused into a ring at the base.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Up to 50 disc flowers that lack rays per head. Individual flowers are only 1/4 wide, tubular and white to purple. The flowers appear from April through June.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- White
- Leaf Feel:
- Soft
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblanceolate
- Obovate
- Spatulate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Fuzzy gray-green alternate leaves are simple with smooth margins, occasionally somewhat wavy. They are stemless, have a pointed tip and wedge-shaped base. They are 1 to 3 inches long and 1/2 to 1/3 inch wide. The upper surface is sparsely hairy and is greener in appearance than the under surface which is densely wooly and appears whitish. There is a prominent central vein.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Stem is hairy
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Dry Soil
- Problems:
- Weedy
