common silverweed

Argentina anserina

Common silverweed is a lovely plant that grows close to the ground. It has bright green leaves and pretty yellow flowers that look like little suns shining in the grass.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The common silverweed has distinctive pinnate leaves with a silvery-white, felt-like underside, giving it its name. Its bright yellow, five-petaled flowers bloom individually on slender stems, rising from low-lying rosettes.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderRosalesFamilyRosaceaeGenusArgentina

common silverweed

Interesting facts

Its roots were a survival food for many cultures, even tasting a bit like parsnips!

People once called it 'goose grass' because geese loved to eat its tasty leaves!

Silverweed can grow in salty soil, making it super tough where other plants struggle!

The silver color on its leaves isn't paint; it's tiny hairs reflecting light!

Special abilities

Common silverweed has silvery undersides on its leaves that reflect sunlight, protecting it from too much sun and heat.

Common silverweed grows edible, starchy roots that store energy, helping it survive harsh conditions.

Measurements & details

Height: 10-30 cm
Spread: 30-100 cm
Flower Size: 1-2.5 cm
Bloom Season: Late spring to early fall
Edible: Yes
Toxicity: None
Lifecycle: Perennial
Pollination Method: Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

European honey bee

Apis mellifera

Visits flowers for nectar

eaten by

Greylag goose

Anser anser

Eats its leaves and shoots

eaten by

European rabbit

Oryctolagus cuniculus

Grazes on its leaves

Traits

Herbaceous

Herbaceous plants are non-woody plants with soft stems that typically die back to the ground at the end of the growing season.

Flowering

Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.

Medicinal

Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.

Edible

Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.

Pollinator Magnet

Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

Rapid Growing

Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.