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Gutierrezia sarothrae (Broom snakeweed)
Loughmiller, Campbell and Lynn

Gutierrezia sarothrae (Pursh) Britt. & Rusby

Broom snakeweed, Kindlingweed, Matchbrush, Texas snakeweed, Broomweed, Turpentine weed

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Synonyms: Xanthocephalum sarothrae

USDA Symbol: GUSA2

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Kindlingweed or broom snakeweed is a 1-3 ft. sub-shrub with many slender, branching stems. Tiny, yellow flowers cluster in tufts at ends of branches. Foliage is yellow-green and thread-like. Lower leaves are often shed by the time of flowering. Stems are mostly of the same height, producing a yellow-domed, fan-shaped plant when in flower. Many slender green branches form a round shrublet with hundreds of tiny yellow flower heads in loose clusters.

A very similar species, Little-head Snakeweed (G. microcephala), which may grow in the same area, has 1-3 ray flowers and 1-3 disk flowers. As with many aromatic plants, this species was used medicinally, occasionally as a treatment for snakebite; hence the name Snakeweed. Bundled, dried stems made primitive brooms, hence Broom. It has also been called Matchweed and Matchbush, in reference to the match-like flower heads. This plant poses serious problems as a range weed. More frequent under improper range management, it now covers thousands of square miles of once good grassland.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf: Green
Flower: Flowers 1/4 inch
Fruit:
Size Class: 1-3 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA , CO , ID , KS , MN , MT , ND , NE , NM , NV , NY , OK , OR , SD , TX , UT , WA , WY
Canada: AB , MB , NT , SK
Native Distribution: Sask. to extreme s.e. WA, s. to w. TX & CA; also n. Mex.
Native Habitat: Dry, open, calcareous mesas, plains & disturbed areas
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Soil Description: Rocky or gravelly soils. Caliche type, Limestone-based, Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam Clay
Conditions Comments: Better color and less aggressive than annual broomweeds. Responds well to poor, dry soils. Generally considered a weed and indicator of poor management in range areas.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Rock gardens, Showy, Perennial garden
Use Wildlife: It is generally shunned by wildlife. Nectar-insects, Nectar-Bees, Nectar-Butterflies, Cover, Seeds-Granivorous birds. This plant is a poor grazing fodder, and the new spring growth may be toxic to animals. Since it tends to increase with overgrazing, its abundance often indicates overused rangeland. (Niering)
Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds
Description: Propagate by seed or cuttings. Woody stem or herbaceous tip cuttings should be placed in vermiculite or sand under intermittent mist.
Seed Collection: Not Available
Seed Treatment: No pretreatment is necessary.

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Herbarium Specimen(s)

NPSOT 0040 Collected Oct. 7, 1990 in Bexar County by Judith C. Berry

Bibliography

Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Bibref 291 - Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Gutierrezia sarothrae in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Gutierrezia sarothrae in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Gutierrezia sarothrae

Metadata

Record Modified: 2009-11-23
Research By: TWC Staff

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