# Tropical Horseweed (*erigeron sumatrensis*)

Tropical Horseweed is a bright and cheerful plant that grows in warm places. Its fluffy white flowers can make anyone smile when they see them swaying in the breeze!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger
- **Habitat:** Tropical Horseweed typically grows in sunny, disturbed areas such as roadsides, fields, and gardens.
- **Also known as:** Sumatra Daisy, Tropical Daisy

![Tropical Horseweed](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Conyza_sumatrensis_leaf1_Rylestone_%2815006775522%29.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Harry Rose from South West Rocks, Australia, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Conyza_sumatrensis_leaf1_Rylestone_%2815006775522%29.jpg)

## Appearance

The Tropical Horseweed is an upright, slender plant, often reaching a notable height. It has narrow, somewhat hairy green leaves and numerous tiny, inconspicuous whitish to pale yellow flower heads clustered at the top. Its tall, unbranched appearance distinguishes it from many ground-hugging weeds.

## Taxonomy

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

## Interesting facts

- Despite its name, horses don't typically eat much Tropical Horseweed!
- Its leaves can be used in some traditional medicines by local communities!
- This plant is a master of adapting to many different climates and soils!
- This plant is considered an invasive weed in many parts of the world!

## Special abilities

- **Airborne Traveler:** Tropical Horseweed has fluffy parachute-like seeds that can fly on the wind, helping it spread far and wide.
- **Pioneer Power:** Tropical Horseweed can quickly grow in disturbed soils, like roadsides, making it one of the first plants to appear.
- **Seed Machine:** Tropical Horseweed produces thousands of tiny seeds, ensuring many new plants will sprout and thrive.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 50-180 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Year-round
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Annual
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits its small flowers for nectar and pollen.
- **Pollinates:** [Monarch butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — Occasionally sips nectar, aiding flower pollination.
- **Eaten by:** Fall armyworm (*Spodoptera frugiperda*) — Larvae may feed on the leaves, causing damage.

## 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.
- [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 Tropical Horseweed?

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 Tropical Horseweed?

50-180 cm

### How big are the flowers on Tropical Horseweed?

0.2-0.5 cm

### When does Tropical Horseweed bloom?

Year-round

### Is Tropical Horseweed edible?

No

### Is Tropical Horseweed toxic?

None

### What is Tropical Horseweed's lifecycle?

Annual

### How is Tropical Horseweed pollinated?

Insect

## Where to spot

- [Fairview Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fairview-park) — California, US · Park

## 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: [Tropical Horseweed: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tropical-horseweed)