Carrot Weed Ambrosia artemisiifolia
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- am-BRO-zhuh ar-te-miz-ee-eye-FOH-lee-uh
- Description
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Ragweed is a summer annual noxious weed in the daisy family (Asteraceae) and is native to most of North America but has naturalized in many parts of the world. The Genus name is Greek for "food of the gods" or "drink of immortality." The species name refers to the leaves resembling the leaves of wormwoods.
This plant is adaptive to various soils and prefers drier conditions in full sun to partial shade. It generally grows 1 to 3 feet tall but can reach heights of 6 feet with a 3 to 4-foot spread. It is drought and poor soil tolerant
This is the culprit for causing allergies, hay fever, and contact dermatitis. The male flowers release copious amounts of pollen in late summer to fall, which is dispersed by the wind. Many seeds are produced that remain viable for several years. Birds and game birds love the seeds due to the high oil content. The leaves are deeply lobed giving it a fern-like look and the flowers are non-showy in terminal spike-like clusters.
Control is best accomplished by hoeing and hand pulling. There are now glyphosate-resistant strains in the United States.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: The ragweed leaf beetle was found to be an effective control in Europe and is being released to other countries.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ambrosia
- Species:
- artemisiifolia
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Teas from the leaves used in herbal medicine.
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North America
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , AZ , CA , CO , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , MT , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NV , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV , WY Canada: AB , BC , MB , NB , NL , NS , NT , ON , PE , QC , SK
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds love the seeds.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Weed
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Very Dry
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Description:
- Woody achene with 4-7 spine-like projections, resembling a crown. They contain numerous seeds that are viable for up to 5 years.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Monoecious, male flowers in 1-4 inch long terminal racemes occur and may have 2 short side spikes. Female flowers are in axillary clusters below the male. The individual 1/8 inch flower is green, turns yellow-green then brown as it matures. Pollen is released late summer into fall and is carried by the wind.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Pinnatifid
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Green leaves are up to 6 inches long and 4 inches wide. They can be alternate or opposite along the stem and have a delicate appearance, deeply lobed with the base being much wider than the tip. Young leaves will have hairs on the undersides.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Pinkish red grooved stems are hairy.
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Landscape:
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Poor Soil
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Weedy
