Bristly oxtongue.

Auf einen Blick

Pflegestufe

Einfach

Pflanzenart

Biennial herb

Licht

Full sun

Licht im Innenraum

Direkte Sonne

Gießen

Alle 7 bis 14 Tage

Endgröße

3 feet

Wachstum

Mittel

Winterhärte

USDA 6 bis 10

Blütezeit

Late spring to early autumn

Pflege

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.

Gießen

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

Düngen

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

Schneiden

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

Umtopfen

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

Boden

Well drained, loamy or sandy soil

Boden-pH

Neutral to slightly alkaline

Temperatur

-10 bis 35°C

Luftfeuchtigkeit

30 bis 70%

Sicherheit

Menschen

There are no reports of significant toxicity to humans.

Kinder

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

Kontaktallergene

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

Allergene in der Luft

The pollen may trigger mild allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.

Essbarkeit

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

So erkennst du die Pflanze

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

Höhe

0,3 bis 0,9m

Breite

0,2 bis 0,45m

Blätter

green, deciduous

Blüten

yellow, 2 bis 3cm

Früchte

brown, Summer to autumn

Häufige Probleme

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

Standort und Pflege

Vermehrung

seed

Pflanzzeit

spring, autumn

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

Gute Pflanzpartner

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

Ähnliche Arten

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

Botanisches

Familie

Asteraceae

Gattung

Helminthotheca

Ordnung

Asterales

Klasse

Magnoliopsida

Ursprüngliche Heimat

Mediterranean region and parts of Europe.

Artenschutz

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.

Nutzen für Wildtiere

nectar source

Bestäuber

Bienen, Schmetterlinge

Verwendung

wildflower meadows, pollinator gardens

Taxonomie abgeglichen mit GBIF.

Häufige Fragen

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.

Woher der Name kommt

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.

Gut zu wissen

• 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.