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Gutierrezia spp.

matchweeds and snakeweeds

Asteraceae

Arid and semi-arid North and South America

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant Fragrant (light)

Native to North America

SunFull Sun

WaterVery Low · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 4–10

Overview

Gutierrezia spp. is a genus of about 30 resinous, much-branched subshrubs and herbs in the daisy family, Asteraceae, native to the dry grasslands, plains, and deserts of North and South America. Plants form rounded, broom-like mounds of slender green stems that are crowded in late summer and autumn with masses of tiny yellow flower heads, each holding only a few ray and disk florets. The narrow leaves and stems are sticky with resin and carry a turpentine-like scent. G. sarothrae, broom snakeweed, is widespread on western North American rangeland, where it increases on overgrazed and disturbed ground and is poisonous to grazing cattle and sheep, at times causing them to abort. Toxicity to livestock, a tendency to spread on degraded land, and a short life are the main drawbacks.

Native Range

Native to western and central North America and to South America, in arid and semi-arid grassland, plains, and desert. G. sarothrae ranges across much of the western United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Suggested Uses

Used in dryland, xeric, and restoration plantings on poor soils, in gravel and rock gardens, and for erosion control on dry banks where the toxicity to grazing animals is acceptable.

How to Identify

Look for a low, rounded subshrub with a woody base and many slender, resinous, green stems. The leaves are narrow, linear, and sticky, and the small yellow flower heads cluster at the stem tips in such numbers that they cover the plant in late summer and autumn. The whole plant gives off a turpentine-like resin scent when handled.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height8" - 3'

Width/Spread1' - 3'

Colors

Flower Colors

yellow

Foliage Colors

green

grey green

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~6 weeks

Summer Fall

Dense flushes of tiny yellow flower heads open from late summer into autumn, roughly August to October, covering the rounded canopy. The bloom is brief but heavy, drawing late-season bees and other insects to the resinous mounds.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

green to grey-green, resinous

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 8-10 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

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.5 - 8.5(Alkaline)

357912

Soil Types

sand rocky clay

Drainagedry

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Very Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

1-2 years to flowering

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Gutierrezia spp. grows in full sun and sharp drainage, in poor, dry, sandy or rocky soil that is often alkaline. Established plants need very little water and hold up through extended drought. The hardier subshrubs tolerate cold to about USDA zone 4 in the arid West. No feeding is needed, and rich or wet soil shortens the plants. Resin and toxicity leave the foliage untouched by most browsing animals.

Pruning

A light shear after flowering clears spent heads and keeps the mound dense. Older woody plants can be cut back hard in spring to renew growth. Self-sown seedlings are removed to limit spread on disturbed ground.

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Toxic to pets

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Shrub

Gutierrezia spp.

matchweeds and snakeweeds

Asteraceae

Arid and semi-arid North and South America

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant Fragrant (light)

Native to North America

SunFull Sun

WaterVery Low · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 4–10

Overview

Native Range

Suggested Uses

Used in dryland, xeric, and restoration plantings on poor soils, in gravel and rock gardens, and for erosion control on dry banks where the toxicity to grazing animals is acceptable.