Galinsoga quadriradiata
shaggy soldier
Attracts Pollinators
Native to North America
SunFull Sun – Part Shade
WaterMedium
Overview
Galinsoga quadriradiata is a fast-growing annual in the daisy family, reaching 4-24 inches (10-60 cm) tall with a branching, somewhat sprawling habit. The stems and opposite, oval leaves 1-3 inches (2.5-7 cm) long are covered in spreading white hairs, giving the plant a shaggy look that separates it from the nearly hairless G. parviflora. From late spring until frost it carries many small flower heads about 0.2 inch (4-5 mm) across, each with a yellow central disk and usually five white, three-toothed ray florets. A single plant can set thousands of seeds and run through several generations in one season, which has made it a common weed of gardens, croplands, and disturbed ground worldwide. The seeds need no dormancy and germinate fast in warm, moist soil, so populations build rapidly. Growth is checked by drought and ends with the first frost. Young shoots are eaten as a cooked green in parts of South America and Asia. Because it competes strongly with vegetable crops for water and nutrients, it is treated as a weed in most settings rather than a garden plant.
Native Range
Galinsoga quadriradiata is native to Mexico and Central and South America. It has spread as a weed across North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia, growing in cultivated fields, gardens, and roadsides up to about 8,000 feet (2,400 m).Suggested Uses
Rarely planted on purpose; it is widely known as a weed of gardens and farmland. The young leaves and shoots are gathered as a cooked vegetable in the Andes and parts of Asia. It also acts as a minor nectar and pollen source for small insects.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height4" - 2'
Width/Spread6" - 1'6"
Bloom Information
Flowering begins in late spring and continues until frost, often from May through October. The heads open in steady succession, with each plant flowering and seeding at once over many weeks. Small bees and flies visit the flowers, though much seed is set without cross-pollination.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
white with a yellow centerFoliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Water & Climate
Water Needs
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Galinsoga quadriradiata grows in full sun to part shade and tolerates a wide range of soils, favoring moist, fertile ground with a pH of 5.0-7.5. It needs warmth to germinate and grows fastest in the heat of summer. The plant is shallow-rooted and wilts in dry spells, recovering once moisture returns. Where it appears as a weed it is managed by shallow cultivation or mulching before seeds set, since the seedbank builds quickly. No feeding or special care is required, and the plant completes its cycle in a single warm season. It has few pests of note.Pruning
No pruning is practiced on this annual. Where it appears as a weed, plants are pulled or hoed before the flower heads mature to limit seeding. Cut plants can re-root from stem fragments left on moist soil.✓ Toxicity
Non-toxicPlanting Guide
Planting Methods & Timing
Planting Method
direct sow
Direct Sow Timing
warm soil in late spring
Days to Maturity
45–55 days
Plant Spacing
8 inches