| Common Name | Latin Name | Plant Family |
|---|---|---|
|
Broomweed |
Gutierrezia sarothrae |
Compositae |
The twigs are tied to sticks and used as brooms[61, 257, 274].
The dried twigs were used as a kindling for starting fires[274].
A yellow dye can be made from the plant tops[257].
An infusion of the leaves has been used as a pleasant and refreshing bath[257].
The chewed leaf juice has an intoxication effect on bees and can kill them[257].
Cultivation & Habitat
Seed – sow spring in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. Prick the plants out into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle, using deep pots to accommodate the tap root. Grow on for the first winter in a greenhouse and plant out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer[200].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame.
Requires a position in full sun in a deep open well-drained soil[200]. Often found in calcareous soils in the wild[274].
This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10¡c[200]. Plants are sub-shrubs and may die back to the base in winter[200].
Plants have deep taproots and resent root disturbance[200]. They should be planted into their permanent positions as soon as possible.
Because it is unpalatable to livestock, this plant is often an indicator of overgrazed land[274].
Plants are strongly aromatic[200].
Western N. America – Manitoba to Montana, south to Texas and California.
Become ungovernable, break the chains of the matrix; grow and forage your own food and medicine.
*None of the information on this website qualifies as professional medical advice. Take only what resonates with your heart and use your own personal responsibility for what’s best for you. For more information [brackets] [000], see bibliography.