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Grindelia hirsutula - Hook. & Arn.

Common Name Gumweed, Gum Plant
Family Asteraceae
USDA hardiness 8-11
Known Hazards Large doses used medicinally can irritate the kidneys[165 ].
Habitats Disturbed sites, forest openings, hillsides, prairies, roadsides, stream banks, ocean beaches and bluffs, tidal marshes, alkaline, alluvial, clay, or sand soils from sea level to 2800 metres[270 ].
Range Western North America. Widespread across Canada and in California and Oregon.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (3 of 5)
Care (info)
Frost Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Grindelia hirsutula Gumweed, Gum Plant


Franco Folini wikimedia.org
Grindelia hirsutula Gumweed, Gum Plant
BotBln wikimedia.org

 

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Summary

An erect perennial herb or subshrub sometimes as much as 250 cm (100 inches or 8 1/3 feet) tall but usually much shorter. Varieties: Grindelia hirsutula var. maritima — San Francisco Gum Plant, San Francisco gumplant, coastal gumweed; endemic to coastal California in the San Francisco Bay Area.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Grindelia hirsutula is an evergreen Perennial growing to 1 m (3ft 3in) by 0.3 m (1ft) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8. The flowers are pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid and very alkaline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Many but with a low confidence level.

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

None known

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.
Eczema

Gumplant was used by the native North American Indians to treat bronchial problems and also skin afflictions such as reactions to poison ivy[254 ]. It is still used in modern herbalism where it is valued especially as a treatment for bronchial asthma and for states where phlegm in the airways impedes respiration[254 ]. In addition, it is believed to desensitize the nerve endings in the bronchial tree and slow the heart rate, thus leading to easier breathing[254 ]. The herb is contraindicated for patients with kidney or heart complaints[254 ]. The dried leaves and flowering tops are antiasthmatic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, expectorant and sedative[4 , 61 , 165 , 238 ]. The principal use of this herb is in the treatment of bronchial catarrh, especially when there is an asthmatic tendency, it is also used to treat whooping cough and cystitis[4 , 61 , 238 ]. The active principle is excreted from the kidneys, and this sometimes produces signs of renal irritation[4 , 238 ]. Externally, the plant is used to treat burns, poison ivy rash, dermatitis, eczema and skin eruptions[61 , 238 ]. The plant is harvested when in full bloom and can be used fresh as a poultice or dried for infusions etc[238 ]. A homeopathic remedy is prepared from the leaves and flowering stems[4 ].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Yellow and green dyes are obtained from the flowering heads and pods[168 ]. Aromatic. A possible substitute for wood rosin, used in the manufacture of adhesives etc[160 ]. This report probably refers to the resin that covers the flower buds. Carbon Farming - Industrial Crop: hydrocarbon.

Special Uses

Carbon Farming

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Experimental Crop  Industrial Crop: Hydrocarbon  Management: Hay

Climate: cold to warm temperate. Humidity: arid to semi-arid. Succeeds in any well-drained soil in full sun[200 ]. Does well on dry sandy banks and in poor soils[200 ]. This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[200 ]. A very variable species, it is comprised of a number of forms that were previously recognised as distinct species but, in the Flora of North America[270 ], have all been treated as synonyms of this species. A number of these species are included in this database and, for the present are all being retained here. Species affected are Grindelia camporum, Grindelia humilis and Grindelia robusta[K ]. All parts of the plant have a balsamic odour[238 ]. Carbon Farming - Cultivation: experimental. Management: hay.

Carbon Farming

  • Experimental Crop  Plant breeders are testing these plants to see if they could be domesticated for cultivation, but they are still in an experimental phase. Examples include milkweed and leafy spurge.
  • Industrial Crop: Hydrocarbon  Materials, chemicals and energy include bioplastics, rubber, biomass products gasoline, jet fuel, diesel, butane, propane, biogas. Plants are usually resprouting plants and saps.
  • Management: Hay  Cut to the ground and harvested annually. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

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Plant Propagation

Seed

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Hairy gumplant and hairy gumweed.

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: United States (Oregon, California)

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.

None Known

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Grindelia camporumGumplant, Great Valley gumweed, Bract gumweedAnnual/Perennial1.2 7-10  LMNDM031
Grindelia humilisHairy GumweedPerennial1.5 7-10  LMNDM021
Grindelia lanceolataRosin Weed, Narrowleaf gumweed, Texan gumweedBiennial/Perennial1.5 4-8  LMNDM131
Grindelia robustaGreat Valley GumweedPerennial0.6 6-9  LMNDM121
Grindelia squarrosaRosin Weed, Curlycup gumweedBiennial/Perennial1.0 3-7  LMNDM231

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.

 

Expert comment

Author

Hook. & Arn.

Botanical References

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.

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