Gnaphalium americanum
Images by part: leaf (5) · flower (5) · fruit (4) · bark (0) · habit (5) · other (1)

Gnaphalium americanum

American Everlasting

Tier 2 Difficulty: medium Water: low Light: full_sun
Water every
7 days
0
Soil pH
6–7
Hardiness
Zone 8–11
Click count
131
Observations
94

Description

Source: leafsnap

Gnaphalium americanum, commonly known as Cudweed or American Cudweed, is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the Asteraceae family. Native to North America, it thrives in various habitats such as fields, meadows, and disturbed areas. The plant can grow up to 60 cm tall and features a basal rosette of lance-shaped leaves with toothed margins. Its erect stem bears small, alternately arranged leaves. The flowers of Gnaphalium americanum are small and range in color from white to yellowish-white. They bloom from June to September in clusters at the top of the stem. Native Americans have traditionally used Gnaphalium americanum for its medicinal properties to treat a variety of ailments, including coughs, colds, fever, wounds, and skin infections. Overall, Gnaphalium americanum is an interesting herbaceous perennial with notable medicinal properties, commonly found throughout the fields, meadows, and disturbed areas of North America.

Care Guide

💧 Water Every 7 days
Suggested frequency: Every 7 days
☀️ Light Full sun

The purple cudweed grows vigorously when it receives plentiful sunlight, especially throughout all stages of development. Native to well-lit habitats, the plant weakens if it does not get enough light, exhibiting stunted growth or a pale appearance. Excessive light does not appear to harm it.

Ideal: Full sun
🌡️ Temperature 0–32.2°C

Purple cudweed can tolerate a broad range of temperatures, but its range may still be restricted by particular mixes of moisture and heat. It does best in warm summer climates with sufficient rainfall or regular watering. Extended periods of cloudy, rainy weather or prolonged high temperatures can raise the chance that Purple cudweed will die. In winter, protecting the plant from cold can increase its survival.

Ideal temperature: 0–32.2°C
💨 Humidity
Humidity:
🪴 Soil 6-7
Soil pH: 6-7
🌱 Fertilizer

Purple cudweed benefits from regular, light feedings of fertilizer to encourage healthy leaf growth. You should fertilize Purple cudweed about once a month during the summer. Nitrogen is essential for foliage, and adding nitrogen-rich sources helps Purple cudweed thrive.

🪴 Pot & Repot
✂️ Pruning
🌿 Propagating
🐛 Diseases & pets
☠️ Toxicity

Characteristics

Plant Type
Herb
Life Cycle
Annual, Biennial, Perennial
Genus
Gnaphalium
Family
Compositae
Hardiness Zone
8-11
Mature Height
10 cm to 49 cm
Mature Spread
5 cm to 15 cm
Leaf Color
Green, Blue
Leaf Type
Evergreen
Flower Color
White, Yellow, Brown
Flower Size
2.54 cm
Bloom Time
Mid spring, Late spring, Early summer
Planting Time
Spring, Summer, Autumn
Harvest Time
Early summer, Mid summer
Native Area
Colombia, Bahamas, Cuba, Honduras, Mexico, Guatemala, Bolivia, Venezuela, Peru, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Panama, Jamaica

Tags (6)

Common Names (1)

en American Everlasting