Early Cudweed Gamochaeta purpurea
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- gam-oh-KY-ay-ta pur-PUR-ee-uh
- Description
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Early cudweed 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. It is commonly considered a winter annual weed and flowers in its first season. The stems are erect and fuzzy with soft gray green leaves that form small basal rosettes. Its roots are shallow and fibrous and sometimes have a taproot. This plant prefers sandy dry soil and grows in the fulls sun.
This is the least weedy of the Gamochaeta plants and it is sometimes confused with Gamochaeta pensylvanica or Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- 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:
- Canada to Tropical America
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Native Plant
- Weed
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Maintenance:
- High
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Occasionally Dry
- Very Dry
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Achenes tan in color .5 mm long and are 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:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Description:
- Up to 50 pale purple to white disk flowers per head only no strap shaped ray flowers like on other members of the daisy family. 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
- Sinuate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Fuzzy gray green altnerate leaves are simple with smooth margins, occasionally sinuate.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Problems:
- Weedy
