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Summary

Physical Characteristics

Xanthium commune is a ANNUAL growing to 1.5 m (5ft). It is in flower from July to October, and the seeds ripen 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 Insects. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Seed
Edible Uses:

Seed[161]. It is dried, then ground into a powder and mixed with cereal flours when making bread, biscuits etc[161]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.

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

None known

Special Uses

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it is likely to succeed outdoors in many parts of the country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. An easily grown plant, it succeeds in most soils but requires a sunny position. Plants often self sow.

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow spring in situ. The seed requires plenty of moisture in order to germinate.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Afghanistan, Egypt (Sinai), Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russian Federation-Western Siberia (Western Siberia), Russian Federation-Eastern Siberia (Eastern Siberia), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Russian Federation (Primorye, Sakhalin), China (Anhui Sheng, Zhejiang Sheng, Fujian Sheng, Heilongjiang Sheng, Henan Sheng, Hebei Sheng, Hunan Sheng, Hubei Sheng, Jiangxi Sheng, Jiangsu Sheng, Jilin Sheng, Guangdong Sheng, Guizhou Sheng, Liaoning Sheng, Shanxi Sheng, Shandong Sheng, Shaanxi Sheng, Sichuan Sheng, Qinghai Sheng, Yunnan Sheng, Nei Mongol Zizhiqu, Guangxi Zhuangzu Zizhiqu, Ningxia Huizi Zizhiqu, Xinjiang Uygur Zizhiqu, Xizang Zizhiqu, Hainan Sheng), Korea, Japan, Taiwan TROPICAL ASIA: India NORTHERN AMERICA: United States (Alaska, Indiana, Maine (south), Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Connecticut, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Illinois, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Mississippi, Tennessee, New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah), Canada (Québec, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, British Columbia), Mexico (Baja California (Norte), Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Durango, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Chiapas, Ciudad de México, Colima, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, México, Michoacán de Ocampo, Morelos, Nayarit, Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro, Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave, Yucatán) SOUTHERN AMERICA: Venezuela EUROPE: Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Russian Federation (European part), Ukraine (Krym), Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece (incl. Crete), Croatia, Italy (incl. Sardinia, Sicily), North Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, France (incl. Corsica), Portugal AFRICA: Egypt, Morocco

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 itâ€™s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Xanthium spinosum	Spiny Cocklebur	Annual	0.5	6-9		LMH	N	M	0	1	0
Xanthium strumarium	Cocklebur, Rough cocklebur, Canada cocklebur	Annual	0.8	6-9		LMH	N	DM	1	3	2

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.

Xanthium commune - Britton.