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Summary

Crested anoda (Anoda cristata) is an annual mallow of disturbed soils that provides edible leaves and flowers, though both are minor resources. The leaves are mild but hairy and mucilaginous, and the flowers are sweet but tedious to collect, making the plant of limited food value. In Mexico, it is more significant as a gathered leafy vegetable, while in the southwestern United States it remains a secondary wild food, found after summer rains in fields and riparian areas. Not invasive beyond disturbed soils, crested anoda is a modest, opportunistic species. Edibility rating: 2/5 – minor food value, mostly as a supplemental green.

Physical Characteristics

Anoda cristata is a ANNUAL growing to 0.8 m (2ft 7in) by 0.3 m (1ft) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9 and is not frost tender. The flowers are pollinated by Bees, Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Homotypic Synonyms: A. lavateroides Medik. Sida cristata L.

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

Crested anoda provides edible leaves and flowers, though both are minor resources compared to other mallows. The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked, with a mild, agreeable flavor similar to mallows, but their hairy and mucilaginous texture limits appeal. Boiling softens the hairs but does not eliminate them, leaving the leaves only marginally useful as potherbs. The flowers, particularly the petals, stamens, and pistils, are mild, sweet, and mucilaginous, in line with other members of the mallow family. However, the flower stalks and sepals are covered in irritating hairs and must be removed, and collecting sufficient petals is tedious. Immature fruits resemble small, hairy green wheels, but are not considered a practical food. In regions where it grows abundantly, especially in Mexico, the plant is sometimes gathered as a green leafy vegetable, but in the southwestern United States it remains a resource of minor importance [2-3]. Edibility rating: 2/5 – edible but minor; leaves and petals are palatable, though textural issues and difficulty of harvesting reduce their value [2-3].

References More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

None Known

References More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Crested anoda has no strong record of medicinal or non-food uses, unlike some other mallows. Its main value lies as a supplementary wild food where abundant, and it has occasionally been encouraged to grow near cultivated fields in Mexico as a leafy vegetable source.

Special Uses

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

An annual or subshrub that grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome. This species thrives in disturbed sites such as agricultural fields, rangelands, roadsides, and riparian areas. It appears in response to summer rainfall, grows quickly, and wilts soon after blooming. It prefers warm climates, open sun, and soils with adequate moisture following rains. Crested anoda is an annual that grows rapidly after summer rains, producing purple flowers in modest numbers. It is more common in Mexico than in the southwestern United States, where it is relatively localized. While technically considered a weed, it is a “well-behaved” one—restricted to disturbed or agricultural areas and not aggressively invasive outside those habitats. Likely suitable to USDA zones 8–11, where summer rains support its short life cycle. It cannot withstand frost and completes its life cycle quickly in hot weather.

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Crested or spurred anoda (Anoda cristata (L.) Schltdl. = Anoda hastata Cav. = Sida cristata L.).

Native Range

Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Arizona, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil South, Chile Central, Chile North, Chile South, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, New Mexico, Nicaragua, Panamá, Peru, Puerto Rico, Texas, Uruguay, Venezuela

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it's worth checking.

Although often labeled a weed, crested anoda does not behave aggressively in natural ecosystems. It persists mainly in disturbed or cultivated habitats, where it can appear in quantity after rains. It is better described as a localized agricultural weed than as an invasive threat.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : Not available

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

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Anoda cristata - (L.) Schltdl.