# Curlycup Gumweed (*grindelia squarrosa*) Curlycup Gumweed is a bright and cheerful flower that loves to grow in sunny places! Its curly petals and sticky leaves make it a favorite for bees and butterflies. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger - **Snaps:** 5 - **Habitat:** Curlycup Gumweed typically lives in open fields, roadsides, and disturbed areas across North America. - **Also known as:** Curlycup, Gumweed, Stickyweed ![Curlycup Gumweed](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Curlycup_Gumweed.jpg&width=800) Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Curlycup_Gumweed.jpg) ## Appearance The Curlycup Gumweed has bright yellow, daisy-like flowers that bloom from sticky, resinous buds. Its unique curled leaf-like structures, called phyllaries, cup the base of each flower head. The plant has stiff, branched stems and rough, toothed green leaves. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Asterales - **Family:** Asteraceae - **Genus:** Grindelia ## Interesting facts - Its name 'curlycup' comes from the unique curled bracts under its flowers. - Native Americans once used its resin to make traditional cough remedies. - The 'gum' on its flower buds feels like chewing gum to the touch! - This resilient plant is often one of the first to grow in disturbed areas. ## Special abilities - **Sticky Shield:** Curlycup Gumweed has sticky resin on its buds that helps protect it from hungry insects and disease. - **Drought Dynamo:** Curlycup Gumweed can thrive in dry, tough soils, making it a super survivor where other plants struggle. - **Gum Power:** Its unique resin helps seal in moisture and protect its flowers from harsh sunlight in open, sunny places. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-100 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-6 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer-fall - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Biennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar and pollen from flowers. - **Pollinates:** [Monarch butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — Feeds on nectar during its long migrations. - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — May browse on its leaves, especially young plants. - **Pollinates:** Common eastern bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — Busy visitor, collecting pollen and nectar. ## Traits - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Curlycup Gumweed? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Curlycup Gumweed? 30-100 cm ### How wide does Curlycup Gumweed spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on Curlycup Gumweed? 2-6 cm ### When does Curlycup Gumweed bloom? Summer-fall ### Is Curlycup Gumweed edible? No ### Is Curlycup Gumweed toxic? Mild ### What is Curlycup Gumweed's lifecycle? Biennial ## Where to spot - [Morrill County Courthouse](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/morrill-county-courthouse) — Nebraska, US · Historic Site - [Bertrand F. Harrison Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bertrand-f-harrison-arboretum) — Utah, US · Botanical Garden - [Fort George Wright](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-george-wright) — Washington, US · Historic Site - [Hooker County Courthouse](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hooker-county-courthouse) — Nebraska, US · Historic Site - [Provo City Library](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/provo-city-library) — Utah, US · Historic District - [Reptile Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/reptile-gardens) — South Dakota, US · Zoo [View all places to see Curlycup Gumweed](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/curlycup-gumweed) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Curlycup Gumweed: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/curlycup-gumweed)