Ambrosia bidentata
🍃leaf (1)
🌸flower (1)
🌿habit (1)

Ambrosia bidentata

Southern ragweed · Lanceleaf ragweed

Tier 2 Difficulty: medium Water: low Light: full_sun
Water every
7 days
Temperature
5–35 °C
Soil pH
6–8
Hardiness
Zone 4–9
Click count
190
Observations
19

Description

Source: leafsnap

Ambrosia bidentata, commonly known as the biennial ragweed, is a species of flowering plant in the sunflower family. Native to North America, it thrives in various habitats, including prairies, meadows, and disturbed areas. The plant can grow up to 6 feet tall and features green leaves that are deeply lobed with toothed edges. Its small, greenish-yellow flowers lack petals and sepals. The biennial ragweed is notorious for its allergenic properties, as it produces large amounts of pollen during its blooming season from July to October. This pollen can trigger allergic reactions, such as hay fever and asthma, in some individuals. Despite these allergenic effects, Ambrosia bidentata has been utilized for medicinal purposes by Native American tribes for centuries. They used it to treat various ailments, including fever, coughs, colds, and skin irritations. Ecologically, the plant plays a significant role by providing a food source for insects like bees and butterflies, which in turn help with the pollination of nearby plants. Overall, Ambrosia bidentata is a fascinating species. It offers valuable medicinal benefits but also poses challenges to human health due to its allergenic properties.

Care Guide

💧 Water Every 7 days

Lanceleaf ragweed thrives in environments where the soil goes through regular cycles of being wet and dry. This drought-tolerant plant does best when it receives a good amount of water, but the soil should be allowed to dry out once a week. Ensuring the soil has enough moisture during the growing season is crucial for the plant to achieve optimal growth and environmental resilience.

Suggested frequency: Every 7 days
☀️ Light Full sun

Lanceleaf ragweed is native to bright, open habitats and does best in full sun. It will tolerate partial sun but favors direct sunlight for optimal growth. This plant, which can be annual or biennial, is noted for its sun-loving habits.

Ideal: Full sun
🌡️ Temperature 5–35°C

Lanceleaf ragweed can tolerate a wide range of temperatures, but its distribution may still be constrained by different combinations of moisture and heat. It does best in warm summer climates with sufficient rainfall or watering. Extended periods of cloudy, rainy weather or sustained high temperatures can increase the chances of lanceleaf ragweed dying. In winter, providing adequate protection from cold can improve the plant’s survival rate.

Ideal temperature: 5–35°C
💨 Humidity
Humidity:
🪴 Soil 6-8
Soil pH: 6-8
🌱 Fertilizer

Lanceleaf ragweed does well with frequent, light applications of fertilizer to encourage healthy leaf growth. You should fertilize Lanceleaf ragweed about once a month during the summer. Nitrogen is essential for foliage, and adding nitrogen-rich sources helps Lanceleaf ragweed thrive.

🪴 Pot & Repot
✂️ Pruning

Lanceleaf ragweed has lance-shaped leaves and benefits greatly from pruning between early and late spring. To promote growth and manage its spread, trim away dead stems during this period, but avoid heavy pruning outside of the recommended season. For best results, use clean and sharp tools. Pruning not only encourages denser foliage but also helps reduce the production of allergenic pollen.

🌿 Propagating
🐛 Diseases & pets
☠️ Toxicity

Characteristics

Plant Type
Herb
Life Cycle
Annual
Genus
Ambrosia
Family
Asteraceae
Hardiness Zone
4-9
Mature Height
0.3 m to 1.22 m
Mature Spread
20 cm to 61 cm
Leaf Color
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Type
Deciduous
Flower Size
0.25 cm to 0.51 cm
Bloom Time
Late summer, Early fall
Planting Time
Spring, Summer, Autumn
Harvest Time
Early fall, Mid fall

Tags (5)

Common Names (2)

en Southern ragweed
en Lanceleaf ragweed