Triumfetta spp.

burweeds

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

HardinessZones 9–11

Overview

Triumfetta spp. is a genus of about 70 to 150 herbs, subshrubs, and shrubs in the mallow family, Malvaceae, spread through the tropics and subtropics worldwide. Plants grow 1–10 ft (0.3–3 m) tall with branching, often hairy stems and broad, toothed leaves that may be unlobed or three- to five-lobed, sometimes coated in star-shaped hairs. The small flowers have five yellow petals about 0.2–0.5 inch (5–12 mm) across, opening in clusters in the leaf axils and at the stem tips. The fruit is the feature behind the common name burweed: a small round capsule covered in hooked spines that cling to fur and clothing, carrying the seed to new ground. Triumfetta spp. grows in disturbed ground, roadsides, forest margins, and clearings, and several species are weedy or invasive outside their home range. The stems of some species yield a jute-like fiber used for cord and sacking. Most are frost-tender and grow as warm-season plants where winters are cold.

Native Range

Triumfetta spp. is native across the tropics and subtropics of Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Americas, with the greatest number of species in the Old World tropics. It grows in open, disturbed, and secondary habitats, often as a pioneer on cleared ground.

Suggested Uses

Triumfetta spp. is grown mainly as a fiber and utility plant and in tropical habitat or restoration settings more than as an ornamental. Where used in gardens, it is set 24–36 inches (60–90 cm) apart in warm, sunny spots. Its burred fruits and weedy habit limit its use near paths, livestock, and tidy beds.

How to Identify

Identify Triumfetta spp. by its broad, toothed, often lobed leaves with star-shaped hairs and its small five-petaled yellow flowers in the leaf axils. The clearest mark is the burr-like fruit, a round capsule armed with hooked spines that catch on clothing and animal coats. A weedy habit on disturbed ground is a further clue.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 10'

Width/Spread1' - 6'

Colors

Flower Colors

yellow

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Triumfetta spp. flowers through the warm and wet months, often most of the year in the tropics and in summer to autumn in cooler areas. The small yellow flowers open a few at a time over a long season. Burr-like fruits form soon after and persist on the plant, ripening brown and dry.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 5-12 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 Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

sand loam clay

Drainageaverage

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

1 year

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Triumfetta spp. grows in full sun to light shade and a wide range of soils, from sand to clay, at a pH of 5.5–7.5, tolerating poor and disturbed ground. It is drought-tolerant once established but grows most strongly with warmth and summer moisture. The genus is frost-tender and behaves as an annual or dies back where winters are cold. It needs little care and self-seeds freely, so the burred fruits are removed before they ripen where spread is unwanted. Propagation is by seed, which germinates readily in warm soil. Few pests trouble it, and several species are themselves treated as weeds.

Pruning

Triumfetta spp. is cut back to control its size and to remove the burred fruits before they ripen and scatter. Shearing weedy species before flowering limits self-seeding. Where grown for fiber, stems are cut at the base when mature and retted to free the bark fibers.