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Grindelia stricta

Oregon Gumplant

Asteraceae Pacific coast of North America

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

Native to North America

SunFull Sun

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 7–10

Overview

Grindelia stricta is a low, spreading herbaceous perennial in the aster family, with stems 1-3 feet (30-90 cm) long that often sprawl along the ground before turning up at the tips. The thick, somewhat fleshy leaves are 1-4 inches (2.5-10 cm) long with toothed margins and clasp the stem. Yellow daisy-like flower heads, 1.5-2 inches (4-5 cm) across, top the stems from summer into fall; their green bracts curve back and exude a sticky white resin, especially on the unopened buds, which gives the plant its common name gumweed. The seed heads form fluffy tufts. It grows on coastal bluffs, salt marshes, dunes, and beach edges along the Pacific coast of North America, tolerating salt spray and brief flooding by seawater. The resinous foliage and sprawling habit suit exposed coastal sites, though the loose, spreading form can look untidy in formal beds.

Native Range

Grindelia stricta is native to the Pacific coast of North America, from southern California north through Oregon and Washington to British Columbia and southern Alaska. It grows in coastal salt marshes, on bluffs, dunes, and beach margins.

Suggested Uses

Used in coastal gardens, dune and bluff restoration, dry meadows, and pollinator plantings on lean, well-drained soil. The summer flowers draw bees, butterflies, and other insects. Space plants 2-3 feet (60-90 cm) apart to allow the spreading stems room.

How to Identify

Recognize Grindelia stricta by its low, sprawling stems, thick toothed clasping leaves, and yellow daisy flower heads 1.5-2 inches (4-5 cm) across with backward-curving bracts that ooze a sticky white resin. The resin is most obvious on the unopened buds. Its coastal habitat and gummy flower heads separate it from other yellow composites.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 3'

Width/Spread2' - 4'

Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years

Colors

Flower Colors

yellow

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~16 weeks

Summer Fall

Yellow flower heads open from summer into fall, generally June to October. Each plant blooms over a long stretch, with new heads forming as older ones set seed. The sticky resin on the buds is present throughout the flowering period.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

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

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 8.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

sand rocky loam

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

1-2 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun on sandy, rocky, or saline soil with a pH near 6.0-8.0, and tolerates salt spray, brief seawater flooding, and drought. Sharp drainage suits it, and it declines in rich, constantly wet, or shaded ground. It needs little supplemental water once established and no routine feeding. The sprawling stems can root where they touch soil, widening the clump over time. In gardens away from the coast it grows in any lean, well-drained bed in full sun.

Pruning

Cut back the stems in late winter or early spring to tidy the clump and remove dead growth. Removing spent flower heads can extend bloom and limit self-sowing. Hard pruning every few years keeps the sprawling habit compact.

Pruning Schedule

winterearly spring