Overview
Gamochaeta spp. is a genus of about 50 to 80 species of small herbaceous plants in the daisy family (Asteraceae), most of them native to the Americas and especially South America, with several now naturalised as weeds across temperate and subtropical regions worldwide. Plants are low, growing 4–24 inches (10–60 cm) tall, and typically begin as a flat basal rosette before sending up an erect, leafy flowering stem. The leaves are narrow, soft, and covered in dense white woolly hairs, giving the foliage a grey-green to silvery cast, often more heavily felted on the underside. Flower heads are small and lack showy ray florets; instead, clusters of brownish-white disc flowers are packed into spike-like or interrupted arrangements along the upper stem. After flowering, the tiny seeds carry a tuft of bristles that aids wind dispersal, which helps several species spread as lawn and garden weeds. The genus was formerly included in Gnaphalium spp., and many references still list these plants under that name. Most species are short-lived annuals or biennials, though some persist as perennials. Plants grow in open, disturbed, and poor soils, and tolerate dry conditions once established, though they are readily killed by repeated mowing in turf.
Native Range
Gamochaeta spp. is native chiefly to the Americas, with the greatest diversity in South America and additional species in North and Central America. Several species have spread well beyond their native range and now grow as weeds in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia.Suggested Uses
Gamochaeta spp. is rarely planted by choice and is encountered mostly as a weed of lawns, paths, and cultivated ground. The woolly rosettes are sometimes recorded in surveys of native meadow and grassland flora. A few species feature in collections of everlasting and dried plants because the papery heads hold their form when dried.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height4" - 2'
Width/Spread4" - 1'
Bloom Information
Most species flower from late spring through summer and into autumn, with the small heads opening over a long period along the lengthening stem. The brownish disc flowers are wind- and insect-pollinated and quickly form seed. In mild climates some species flower across much of the year.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
Grey-green, white-woollyGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 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
Drought Tolerance
Drought tolerant when established