PlantFun
Plant Needs
Sunlight
Full sun to partial shade; tolerates dry, disturbed roadside or field soils
Watering
Drought-tolerant; water only during prolonged, extreme dry spells
Temperature
Hardy to light frost; thrives in temperate summer temperatures between 15–25°C
Characteristics
- Leaf: Pinnately compound, fern-like leaves with toothed leaflets; bright green.
- Flower: Tiny white umbel clusters; each flower has 5 rounded petals.
- Stem: Slender, hairy stems with hooked bristles on mature seed heads.
Care Guide
Watering
Water only when top 5 cm of soil is completely dry; avoid overwatering
Fertilization
No fertilization needed; grows well in low-nutrient soil. Fertilization may encourage excessive foliage growth at the expense of flowering
Composted eggshell powder：Sprinkle a thin layer of crushed, fully dried eggshells around the base to improve soil drainage; avoid raw eggshells to prevent pest attractionPruning
- Deadhead spent blooms to prevent excessive self-seeding in managed gardens
- Trim back overgrown stems to maintain tidy growth in ornamental wildflower beds
- Remove entire plants before seed set to control spread in cultivated areas
Toxicity
Warning: this plant may be toxic.
Pets & Humans
Pets: Non-toxic to cats per ASPCA
Humans: No documented toxic effects on humans per ASPCA and botanical databases
Garden Uses & Culture
Culture: N/A
Usage: Occasionally used in traditional herbal medicine for mild digestive support; mostly considered a nuisance weed
