# pineapple-weed (*Matricaria discoidea*) Pineapple-weed is a special plant that smells like pineapple when you crush its leaves! It has small, yellow flowers and grows close to the ground. It's often found in sunny places and is fun to spot on nature walks. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 21 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![pineapple-weed](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Chamomilla_suaveolens_kz.jpg&width=800) Photo: Krzysztof Ziarnek, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chamomilla_suaveolens_kz.jpg) ## Appearance The pineapple-weed is a low-growing plant with finely divided, feathery green leaves. It has distinctive dome-shaped, yellowish-green flower heads that lack the white ray petals found on many daisy-like flowers, making it look like tiny green buttons. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Asterales - **Family:** Asteraceae - **Genus:** Matricaria ## Interesting facts - Its unique flowers are entirely green-yellow and surprisingly lack any white petals! - This tough plant often pops up in sidewalk cracks or playgrounds where other plants struggle! - When you crush its leaves, it releases a surprisingly sweet, fruity aroma! - You can steep its fresh or dried flowers to make a mild, apple-scented tea. ## Special abilities - **Aromatic Shield:** Pineapple-weed releases a strong, sweet, pineapple-like scent when crushed, which might deter some grazing animals. - **Tough Blooms:** Its cone-shaped, petalless flowers are very sturdy and can withstand being stepped on, helping it survive in busy, disturbed areas. - **Pioneer Plant:** Pineapple-weed can quickly grow in compacted, disturbed soils, helping it colonize new ground where other plants struggle. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 5-30 cm - **Spread:** 10-30 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Annual - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen from its flowers. - **Pollinates:** Common eastern bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — visits flowers for nectar and pollen. - **Pollinates:** [Painted lady](https://www.snappit.app/explore/painted-lady) (*Vanessa cardui*) — sips nectar from its small blooms. ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always check with an adult before touching or picking plants. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify pineapple-weed? 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 pineapple-weed? 5-30 cm ### How wide does pineapple-weed spread? 10-30 cm ### How big are the flowers on pineapple-weed? 0.5-1.5 cm ### When does pineapple-weed bloom? Late spring to fall ### Is pineapple-weed edible? Yes ### Is pineapple-weed toxic? None ### What is pineapple-weed's lifecycle? Annual ## Where to spot - [Alder Creek Grove](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alder-creek-grove) — California, US · Forest - [Ashton Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ashton-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Bellevue Avenue Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bellevue-avenue-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Brandon Road Lock and Dam](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brandon-road-lock-and-dam) — Illinois, US · Historic Site - [Chestnut Street District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chestnut-street-district) — Massachusetts, US · Historic District - [Forts Baker, Barry, and Cronkhite](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/forts-baker-barry-and-cronkhite) — California, US · Historic District [View all places to see pineapple-weed](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/pineapple-weed) ## 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: [Pineapple-weed: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pineapple-weed)