Bristly oxtongue.

En un coup d'œil

Niveau d'entretien

Facile

Type de plante

Biennial herb

Lumière

Full sun

Lumière en intérieur

Soleil direct

Arrosage

Tous les 7 à 14 jours

Taille adulte

3 feet

Croissance

Moyenne

Rusticité

USDA 6 à 10

Floraison

Late spring to early autumn

Entretien

This plant thrives in full sun and well drained soil. Watch for wilting during extreme heat, though it is generally drought tolerant once established. Keep an eye out for aphids that might cluster on the flower buds.

Arrosage

Water deeply when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.

Engrais

Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer sparingly during the active growing season.

Taille

Remove spent flower stalks to encourage a tidy appearance and prevent unwanted self seeding.

Rempotage

Repot only if the plant becomes root bound in its container.

Sol

Well drained, loamy or sandy soil

pH du sol

Neutral to slightly alkaline

Température

-10 à 35°C

Humidité

30 à 70%

Sécurité

Humains

There are no reports of significant toxicity to humans.

Enfants

The stiff, prickly hairs on the leaves and stems can scratch delicate skin, so handle with care.

Allergènes de contact

The stiff, hooked hairs can cause mechanical skin irritation upon contact.

Allergènes aéroportés

The pollen may trigger mild allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.

Comestibilité

Young leaves are sometimes eaten as a potherb, but the bristly texture makes them unpalatable to most.

Comment l'identifier

• Rough, bristly hairs on leaves
• Yellow flower heads with bracts
• Basal rosette of lance shaped leaves
• Milky sap inside stems

Hauteur

0,3 à 0,9m

Envergure

0,2 à 0,45m

Feuilles

green, deciduous

Fleurs

yellow, 2 à 3cm

Fruits

brown, Summer to autumn

Problèmes courants

• Powdery mildew — A fungal infection that appears as white dusty patches on the leaves.

La cultiver

Multiplication

seed

Quand planter

spring, autumn

Plant in open, sunny areas where it can naturalize without crowding out smaller, less aggressive species.

Bonnes associations

• Field Poppy — They share similar environmental needs in meadow settings.
• Cornflower — This plant provides a nice color contrast to the yellow flowers.

Espèces similaires

• Hieracium — They share similar yellow dandelion like flowers.
• Pissenlit — The flowers and growth habit are superficially similar.

Science

Famille

Asteraceae

Genre

Helminthotheca

Ordre

Asterales

Classe

Magnoliopsida

Région d'origine

Mediterranean region and parts of Europe.

Préservation

It is considered a widespread weed in many regions and is not of conservation concern.

It thrives in disturbed soils, roadsides, and waste ground where it can outcompete other species for light.

Intérêt pour la faune

nectar source

Pollinisateurs

abeilles, papillons

Utilisations

wildflower meadows, pollinator gardens

Taxonomie vérifiée avec le GBIF.

Ce qu'on demande souvent

Is it a weed?

Yes, it is often considered an invasive weed in agricultural fields and disturbed areas.

How do I control it?

Hand pull the plants before they set seed to prevent spread.

D'où vient le nom

The genus name Helminthotheca comes from Greek words meaning worm and case, referring to the worm like appearance of the seeds. Echioides means resembling Echium, another plant with bristly foliage.

Bon à savoir

• The common name bristly oxtongue refers to the rough, tongue shaped leaves.
• It is an annual or biennial plant that spreads readily by wind dispersed seeds.
• The flowers close up during cloudy weather or at night.