Grindelia pulchella
Grindelia pulchella · Asteraceae
📷 Ariadna Tripaldi · CC BY 4.0
The gardener's calendar
Grindelia pulchella is in full bloom: enjoy it, watch watering in hot weather and let spent flowers feed pollinators before pruning.
ID card
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Form
- Herbaceous
- Flowering
- July to September
- Adult size
- 30 to 60 cm in height
- Foliage
- Semi-evergreen to deciduous
- Hardiness
- Low hardiness (prefers warm temperate climate)
- Origin
- North America
- Growth
- Fast
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability low.
Expert tips
The key tip
Grindelia pulchella loves poor, well-drained soils in full sun. Water sparingly. Once established, it's completely self-sufficient. Luminous yellow flowers July to September.
The common mistake
People enrich it with compost or potting soil. It then grows weak, sparsely branched, prone to rot, and flowers poorly.
The pro's trick
Pinch lightly in early June (2 cm from the tip). This forces compact bushy branching and produces far more flowers than a single central stem.
Seasonal watch
Red spider mites settle in during dry summers if air is stagnant. Spray the foliage in late afternoon twice weekly from early July if you have hot continental climate.
Care
Exposure
Install your gumweed in full sun, at least 6 hours per day, to promote generous flowering. A south or west-facing exposure is ideal. Avoid overly shaded areas where the plant becomes weak and flowers poorly.
Watering
Water regularly during the growing season, keeping the soil slightly moist but well-drained. Reduce watering in winter. Avoid excessive moisture which promotes fungal diseases.
Soil
Gumweed prefers well-drained, poor to average soil, preferably slightly acidic to neutral. Light potting soil mixed with sand or gravel works well to promote water drainage.
Fertilizing
Apply balanced, low-dose fertilizer once a month in spring and summer. Prefer nitrogen-poor formulations to avoid overly vigorous growth at the expense of flowering.
Pruning and cutting
Pinch young shoots in spring to promote compact branching. Remove spent flowers regularly to extend flowering. In late autumn, cut back the plant lightly to promote density.
Diseases and pests
Watch for powdery mildew in warm, humid conditions. Spider mites may appear in dry indoor environments. Good drainage and sufficient air circulation reduce the risk of root rot and fungal diseases.
Did you know?
Gumweed has been traditionally used by Native American peoples for centuries. The plant produces a sticky, aromatic resin on its leaves and flowers, which inspired popular uses well before modern scientific study. Its name 'Grindelia' pays tribute to German botanist David Hieronymus Grindel.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- SunflowerHelianthus annuus
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- Canadian goldenrodSolidago canadensis
- WormwoodArtemisia absinthium
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.