Sida cordifolia
flannel weed
Old World tropics; naturalized pantropically including Australia
Overview
Sida cordifolia is an erect, soft-stemmed subshrub growing 20-60 inches (50-150 cm) tall and 12-32 inches (30-80 cm) wide, with branching stems covered in dense, felt-like white hairs. The leaves are heart-shaped to oval, 1-3 inches (2.5-8 cm) long, grey-green, and softly hairy on both surfaces, with toothed margins. Pale yellow to cream flowers 0.3-0.6 inch (8-15 mm) across open singly or in small clusters in the leaf axils, each with five petals, and close by afternoon. The fruit is a ring of 8-10 segments, each tipped with two short awns that catch on fur and clothing and aid seed dispersal. Flowering and fruiting continue through the warm season. All parts contain ephedrine and related alkaloids, which can raise heart rate and blood pressure if the plant is eaten by people or livestock. The species grows on roadsides, pastures, and disturbed ground across tropical and subtropical regions and is listed as an invasive weed in parts of Australia, Africa, and the Americas. It tolerates drought, heat, and poor soils and sets abundant seed.
Native Range
Native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World and now naturalized widely across the tropics, including northern and eastern Australia. It grows on disturbed ground, roadsides, and overgrazed pasture.Suggested Uses
Used in traditional herbal preparations in parts of its range, though its ephedrine content carries cardiovascular risk. In cultivation it is mostly confined to botanical and ethnobotanical collections. It is more often treated as a pasture and roadside weed than as a garden plant.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1'8" - 5'
Width/Spread1' - 2'8"
Reaches mature size in approximately 1 years
Bloom Information
Flowering continues through the warm season, mainly spring to autumn, and year-round in frost-free climates. Pale yellow flowers 0.3-0.6 inch (8-15 mm) across open in the morning and close by afternoon. Each flower is short-lived, but the plant produces them continuously over many weeks.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Pale yellow to creamFoliage Description
Grey-greenGrowing 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
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Sida cordifolia grows in full sun on a wide range of soils, from sand to clay, with a pH of 5.5-7.5, and tolerates poor, compacted ground. It survives extended drought and heat once established and needs no supplemental water in most climates. The plant self-seeds heavily and can spread into surrounding ground and pasture. All parts contain ephedrine alkaloids that affect the heart and circulation if ingested by people or livestock. Because of its weedy spread and alkaloid content, it is managed or removed rather than cultivated in many regions.Pruning
Cutting back the stems before seed set reduces self-sowing and limits spread. Removing whole plants, including the taproot, prevents regrowth from the crown. Spent stems can be cut to the base at the end of the growing season.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
fall
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 3 gallons