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| Broom Snakeweed, Snakeweed, Broomweed, Round-head Broomweed, Sheepweed, Yellow-weed, Hierba de Vibora, Hierba de San Nicolas, Cayaye Gutierrezia sarothrae (Xanthocephalum sarothrae) Asteraceae (Compositae) Broom snakeweed is a small, bushy, almost perfectly symmetrical shrub with thread-like chartreuse-green leaves and masses of tiny, light yellow flowers from June to November. Native to arid, rocky plains from the Trans-Pecos west to California and north into Canada, it grows on poor dry soils and is very drought tolerant once established, although it may lose its leaves in summer droughts. It prefers full sun. Because of its small stature and neat and tidy appearance, it would make an attractive rock garden plant or groundcover. It may, however, aggressively seed out, especially with supplemental watering. In rangelands, snakeweed is an indicator of overgrazed conditions. The plants have indeed been used for brooms. All parts of snakeweed are toxic. Plant Habit or Use: small shrub Exposure: sun Flower Color: yellow
Blooming Period: summer Fruit Characteristics: achene Height: 1 to 3 feet Width: 1 1/2 to 4 feet Plant Character: deciduous Heat Tolerance: high Water Requirements: Soil Requirements: adaptable Additional Comments:
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