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Native Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Ambrosia trifida (Great ragweed)
Flaigg, Norman G.

Ambrosia trifida L.

Great ragweed, Giant ragweed

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

USDA Symbol: amtr

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

A tall, rough, hairy plant with elongated, terminal clusters of nodding male flower heads above few clusters of female flower heads; some plants with hundreds of heads.

This is the giant among the ragweeds, reaching towering heights and possessing long flower spikes. The pollen of ragweeds is spread by wind rather than by insects. Can be invasive, especially in disturbed areas such as a streambank. Pollen from Great Ragweed contains many antigens that cause hay fever.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Annual
Habit: Subshrub
Fruit:
Size Class: 6-12 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Green , Brown
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , AZ , CA , CO , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , MT , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV , WY
Canada: AB , BC , MB , NB , NS , ON , PE , QC , SK
Native Distribution: Throughout much of North America, except far north.
Native Habitat: Waste places, fields, and roadsides.
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N)

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Ambrosia trifida is a larval host and/or nectar source for:
Bordered Patch
(Chlosyne lacinia)

Food Source
Learn more at BAMONA

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:

Fredericksburg Nature Center - Fredericksburg, TX
Brackenridge Field Laboratory - Austin, TX
Natural Biodiversity - Johnstown, PA

Bibliography

Bibref 417 - Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs of Eastern and Central North America (2000) Foster, S. & J. A. Duke
Bibref 1186 - Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr.
Bibref 1185 - Field Guide to Western Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides) (1999) Opler, P.A. and A.B. Wright

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2011-01-23
Research By: TWC Staff

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