Early cudweed is a native annual or biennial in the Asteraceae (daisy family). It can be found in coastal areas, grasslands, forest edges, fields, weedy gardens, waste places, along roadsides, and in disturbed areas and flowers its first year. It is native to North America but is considered a winter annual weed in other parts of the world. In some states, such as Massachusetts, it is considered endangered and is protected. The fuzzy erect stems grow to 1 foot with soft gray-green leaves that form small basal rosettes and are alternate on the stem. Its roots are shallow and fibrous and sometimes have a taproot. The flowers are disc flowers only with no rays. It is a host plant for the American lady butterfly. Herbivores will browse the leaves. This plant is often found in sandy dry soils and prefers full sun. It will tolerate sites that are occasionally wet. This is the least weedy of the Gamochaeta plants and it is sometimes confused with Gamochaeta pensylvanica or Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium . Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. However, it is becoming endangered in some areas partially to being crowded out by non-native weeds.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil drainage
Moist | Occasionally Dry | Very Dry
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green; White
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Oblanceolate; Obovate; Spatulate
Leaf margin
Entire; Undulate
Leaf feel
Soft
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Fuzzy gray-green alternate leaves are simple with smooth margins, occasionally somewhat wavy. They are stemless, have a pointed tip and wedge-shaped base. They are 1 to 3 inches long and 1/2 to 1/3 inch wide. The upper surface is sparsely hairy and is greener in appearance than the under surface which is densely wooly and appears whitish. There is a prominent central vein.
Flower color
Purple/Lavender; White
Flower form
Head
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Up to 50 disc flowers that lack rays per head. Individual flowers are only 1/4 wide, tubular and white to purple. The flowers appear from April through June.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Cream/Tan
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit size
< 1 inch long
Fruit detail
Achenes are tan in color, bullet shaped, 0.5 mm long and slimy when wet. They are topped with bristly pappus fused into a ring at the base.
Stem color
Gray/Silver; Green
Stem detail
Stem is hairy
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
North America
Distribution
AL , AR , AZ , CA , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , HI , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MO , MS , MT , NC , NJ , NM , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , WI , WV Canada: ON
Wildlife value
host plant for the American lady butterfly
Play value
Wildlife Food Source; Wildlife Larval Host
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Achene
Uses (ethnobotany)
It was used by Native Americans as a tea for colds and flu.