Cudweeds are native herbs in the Asteraceae (daisy) family and comprise several closely related species that are winter annuals or short-lived perennials. They can be found growing on several continents. The leaves are gray-green and covered in wooly hairs as is most of the plant. The flowers vary but are often in clusters of heads. in yellow, white or lavender. They grow 10 inches to 2 feet tall and are often found in sandy or rocky low-fertility soils in full sun. It is important as a butterfly host plant and has been used medicinally to treat parasites and sciatic pain. Some species may be appropriate in a naturalized area. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green; White
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate; Rosulate
Leaf shape
Oblanceolate; Oblong; Spatulate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Velvety
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Cudweeds have basal rosettes , alternate leaves on the stems and are covered in distinct fine, white "wooly" fibers. They are oval in shape and sessile (no stems). They are 1- 2.5 inches long 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Fragrant
Flower form
Corymb
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Flowers are tubular, white, lavender, or yellow in compact heads, closely arranged in a large terminal corymb.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The achenes are oblong, smooth, and sometimes have papillae.
Stem color
Gray/Silver; Green
Stem detail
Green-gray stems with wooly hairs
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Northern Hemisphere and parts of Southern Hemisphere
Distribution
America, Asia, Africa, Australia
Wildlife value
Food for American painted lady caterpillars.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Achene
Uses (ethnobotany)
Gnaphalium has been used for pain of the sciatic nerve when pain is associated with numbness. Also used to treat parasites.