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Gueterrezia sarothrae
Common Name Snakebush (Broom Snakeweed)
Family Compositae (Sunflower Family - Aster Tribe)

Description

This is a small shrub reaching only about 0.5 m in height. It bears bright yellow flowers in umbels and has a distinctive turpentine-like smell. The long, thin leaves are borne on tall stems.

Range

Throughout the intermountain west, north into Canada and east into Kansas. Elevation: 2,000 - 8,000ft.

Culture

Establishes in disturbed soils. Prefers a poor, dry soil. Zones 4 - 6.

Value

Nice fine-textured, if not particularly distinctive, foliage through most of the season, but when the greenish yellow flowers come out in late summer bloom, snakeweed graces any low water landscape. As tough as nails, growing in rock and saline soils. Uncommon in trade.

Propagation

Seeds will not germinate unless stored at room temperature for 4 to 6 months after maturation. This works out perfectly for growing plants the following season. Start seed from a fall collection in April the following spring. To start indoors crush seed heads and sow seed and all in container. Cover very lightly so you can still see about 70% of it through the top cover of soil. Lighting the seeds for 8 hours a day will greatly enhance the rate of germination. Transplant when well rooted. To start outdoors place a good quantity of the seed in the desired location and cover with 1/8" of soil, water in. Start in the spring.