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Summary
An erect summer annual with some useful medicinal qualities and minor edible and other uses. Bloom Color: Green.
Main Bloom Time: Early fall, Late summer, Mid summer. Form: Upright or erect. Common Names include: great ragweed, Texan great ragweed, giant ragweed, tall ragweed, blood ragweed, perennial ragweed, horseweed,buffaloweed, and kinghead. Spanish: Artemisa grande. Germany: Dreilappige Ambrosie; Dreispaltige Ambrosie. Japan: kuwamodoki; oobutakusa. Netherlands: driedeelige Ambrosia. Sweden: tall Ambrosia. USA: bitterweed; buffalo weed; crown-weed; horse-cane; horse-weed; kinghead; tall ragweed.
Physical Characteristics

Ambrosia trifida is a ANNUAL growing to 2 m (6ft 7in) at a medium rate. It is in flower from August to October. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Wind.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Habitats
Woodland Garden Cultivated Beds;
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Oil
Edible Uses: Oil
This plant was cultivated by the pre-Columbian N. American Indians, seeds found in pre-historic sites are 4 - 5 times larger than those of the present-day wild plant, which seems to indicate selective breeding by the Indians[207]. The following report is for A. artemesifolia, it quite possibly also applies to this species[K]. An oil is obtained from the seed. It has been suggested for edible purposes because it contains little linolenic acid[61, 183]. The seed contains up to 19% oil[61], it has slightly better drying properties than soya bean oil[183].
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.
Antidote Astringent Emetic Poultice Skin Women's complaints
The leaves are very astringent, emetic and febrifuge[222, 257]. They are applied externally to insect bites and various skin complaints, internally they are used as a tea in the treatment of pneumonia, fevers, nausea, intestinal cramps, diarrhoea and mucous discharges[222]. The juice of wilted leaves is disinfectant and is applied to infected toes[257]. A tea made from the roots is used in the treatment of menstrual disorders and stroke[222]. The pollen is harvested commercially and manufactured into pharmaceutical preparations for the treatment of allergies to the plant[222].
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
Dye Oil
A red colour is obtained from the crushed heads[207]. (This probably refers to the seed heads[K].) The sap of the plant can stain the skin red[274]. A positive impact may be seen with a noted decrease in the numbers of plant-parasitic nematodes found in soyabean fields where A. trifida is present (Wang et al., 1998).
Special Uses
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
We have very little information on this species but suggest growing it in a sunny position in a well-drained soil[K]. This plant is sometimes cultivated by the N. American Indians for food and medicine[207]. Special Features:
North American native, Invasive, Inconspicuous flowers or blooms.
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
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Propagation
Seed - we have no details for this species but suggest sowing the seed in situ in April.
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Native Plant Search
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Found In
Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available
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.
A noxious weed, both in its native range and in areas where it is an introduced and often invasive species. Extremely competitive and is very difficult to control, especially in many broadleaved crops. a declared noxious weed in California, Delaware, Illinois and New Jersey, USA and a quarantine weed in Poland and Russia [1c].
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed.
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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Author
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Botanical References
222235
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