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Ambrosia artemisiifolia
Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.
Annual Ragweed, Short Ragweed
Asteraceae (Aster Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: AMAR2
USDA Native Status: L48 (NI), HI (I), CAN (N)
Coarse, hairy-stemmed annual with inconspicuous flowers in elongated clusters.
This plant, not Goldenrod, is a cause of hay fever, recognized by all who suffer the discomfiting allergy. Pollination is by wind, as indicated by the drabness of the flowers, which do not attract insects. The best control is hand rogueing or permitting perennial plants to crowd this annual out. Since the seeds persist into winter and are numerous and rich in oil, they are relished by songbirds and upland game birds.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: AnnualHabit: Herb
Size Notes: Up to about 5 feet tall, often much shorter.
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Green , BrownBloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug
Distribution
USA: AL , AR , AZ , CA , CO , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , MT , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NV , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV , WYCanada: AB , BC , MB , NB , NL , NS , NT , ON , PE , QC , SK
Native Distribution: Throughout North America, except far north.
Native Habitat: Grows profusely in open mixed grass prairies and roadsides. Native to the New World, this species has naturalized in Europe, parts of Africa, Asia and elsewhere.
Growing Conditions
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , ShadeSoil Moisture: Dry
Conditions Comments: Though a North American native, this species is generally considered a troublesome weed. In gardens ragweed can be contained by hoeing or hand-weeding young plants. An annual, it self-propagates only by seed. Ragweed species unleash copious quantities of allergenic pollen spores with the wind. Those who are prone to hay fever suffer from its effects.
Find Seed or Plants
Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.
National Wetland Indicator Status
Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
Status: | FACU | FACU | FACU | FACU | UPL | FACU | FACU | FACU |
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Natural Biodiversity - Johnstown, PA
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR
Herbarium Specimen(s)
NPSOT 0547 Collected Oct 4, 1987 in Bexar County by Harry CliffeNPSOT 1115 Collected Oct 12, 1994 in Bexar County by Harry Cliffe
Bibliography
Bibref 610 - Edible wild plants of the prairie : an ethnobotanical guide (1987) Kindscher, K.Search More Titles in Bibliography
Web Reference
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Additional resources
USDA: Find Ambrosia artemisiifolia in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Ambrosia artemisiifolia in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Ambrosia artemisiifolia
Metadata
Record Modified: 2022-11-09Research By: NPC