Bitterweed
ExplorePlants
Bitterweed
Helenium amarum
Bitterweed is a bright yellow flower that grows in sunny places. It has a fun name because its leaves can taste a little bitter! These flowers are great for attracting butterflies and bees.
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The Bitterweed has many slender, branched stems topped with numerous bright yellow, daisy-like flowers. Each flower features a prominent yellow-brown center surrounded by 7-13 short, wedge-shaped petals. Its narrow, sparse leaves distinguish it from other broader-leafed wildflowers.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderAsteralesFamilyAsteraceaeGenusHelenium
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Crush its leaves to smell a strong, unique, and bitter scent!
Despite its name, many bees and butterflies love its nectar-rich flowers.
If cows eat bitterweed, their milk can actually taste bitter!
It often grows in open fields, painting them yellow with its blooms!
Special abilities
Ability
Bitter Defense
Bitterweed has chemicals that make it taste very bitter, which helps it defend against most animals trying to eat it.
Ability
Sunshine Seeker
Bitterweed can thrive in full sun and dry, poor soils, helping it grow in places where other plants struggle.
Ability
Late Bloomer Feast
Its cheerful yellow flowers bloom in late summer and fall, offering nectar when many other plants have finished flowering.
Ability
Super Spreader
Bitterweed produces many tiny, light seeds that are easily carried by wind, helping it quickly spread to new areas.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 10-60 cm
- Spread
- 15-30 cm
- Flower Size
- 1-2.5 cm
- Bloom Season
- Summer-fall
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- Moderate
- Lifecycle
- Annual
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
European honey bee
Apis mellifera
Visits flowers for nectar and pollen
pollinates
Common eastern bumble bee
Bombus impatiens
Collects nectar and pollen from blooms
pollinates
Marmalade hoverfly
Syrphus ribesii
Adults feed on nectar and pollen
Traits
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Summer Blooming
Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Edible
Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Don't eat any plants unless a grown-up says it's safe!
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Bitterweed?
10-60 cm
How wide does Bitterweed spread?
15-30 cm
How big are the flowers on Bitterweed?
1-2.5 cm
When does Bitterweed bloom?
Summer-fall
Is Bitterweed edible?
No
Is Bitterweed toxic?
Moderate
What is Bitterweed's lifecycle?
Annual
How is Bitterweed pollinated?
Insect
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