# shaggy soldier (*Galinsoga quadriradiata*)

The shaggy soldier is a little plant with fuzzy leaves and tiny flowers. It often grows in gardens and along roadsides, making it a familiar sight in many places.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 1
- **Habitat:** Urban areas

![shaggy soldier](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Galinsoga.ciliata.1.jpg&width=800)

Photo: sarefo, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Galinsoga.ciliata.1.jpg)

## Appearance

The shaggy soldier has slender, often hairy stems and small, daisy-like flowers. Each flower typically displays five tiny white 'petals' (ray florets) surrounding a bright yellow center of disc florets, making it distinct from similar roadside weeds.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Asterales
- **Family:** Asteraceae
- **Genus:** Galinsoga

## Interesting facts

- Did you know 'quadriradiata' in its name means four rays, but it usually has five tiny white 'petals'? Wow!
- Even though it's a common weed, many cultures consider its young leaves a tasty and nutritious wild green!
- One shaggy soldier plant can produce up to 7,500 seeds, ready to sprout at a moment's notice!
- This tiny plant is a champion traveler, originally from Mexico, now found almost everywhere on Earth!

## Special abilities

- **Seed Superpower:** Shaggy soldier can produce thousands of tiny seeds per plant, helping it spread quickly and colonize new disturbed areas.
- **Fast Finisher:** This plant can complete its entire life cycle from seed to flower in just a few weeks, allowing it to quickly dominate open ground.
- **Hairy Helper:** Its stems and leaves are covered in fine hairs, which can deter some herbivores and help reduce water loss.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 20-80 cm
- **Spread:** 15-40 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer to fall
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Annual
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — gathers nectar and pollen from its small flowers
- **Eaten by:** humans (*Homo sapiens*) — its young leaves are consumed as a nutritious wild edible
- **Pollinates:** marmalade hoverfly (*Syrphus ribesii*) — visits flowers for nectar and pollen collection

## Traits

- [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur.
- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [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.
- [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.
- [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

While this plant is not harmful, it's always best to look and not touch without asking an adult.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify shaggy soldier?

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 shaggy soldier?

20-80 cm

### How wide does shaggy soldier spread?

15-40 cm

### How big are the flowers on shaggy soldier?

0.5-1 cm

### When does shaggy soldier bloom?

Summer to fall

### Is shaggy soldier edible?

Yes

### Is shaggy soldier toxic?

None

### What is shaggy soldier's lifecycle?

Annual

## Where to spot

- [Hoffner Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hoffner-historic-district) — Ohio, US · Historic District
- [Mount Airy Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mount-airy-forest) — Ohio, US · Forest

## 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*)

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Source: [Shaggy Soldier: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/shaggy-soldier)