Native Habitat:
Moist meadows, streambanks, wetlands, and disturbed areas throughout North America, including the Willamette Valley.
 
Bloom Time:
July – September
 
Growth Habit & Mature Size:
Annual to short-lived perennial herb, 1–3 feet tall, with branched stems and small yellow, daisy-like flowers. Produces barbed seeds that stick to clothing or fur.
 
Light & Soil Requirements:
Full sun to partial shade; prefers moist, fertile soils but tolerates seasonal flooding and disturbed soils.
 
Willamette Valley Native Companion Plants:
Carex obnupta, Juncus effusus, Deschampsia cespitosa, Camassia leichtlinii, Eriophyllum lanatum.
 
Urban Garden Function:
Adds early- to mid-summer color and soft texture to urban wetland gardens, rain gardens, and bioswales. Its upright stems and small yellow flowers complement taller sedges and native grasses, creating dynamic layers in restoration and naturalized landscapes. Ideal for riparian buffers and pollinator-friendly urban plantings.
 
Wildlife Supported:
Flowers attract native bees, syrphid flies, and small butterflies. Seeds provide food for songbirds, and the dense foliage offers cover for insects and amphibians in wetland habitats.
 
Historical Use:
Used by Indigenous peoples for minor medicinal purposes and as a forage plant. Seeds historically utilized as natural twine for craft applications.