Species wild quinine
White flowers with brown anthers, lime-yellow buds, white hair, lime petiole and stems.

wild quinine

Parthenium integrifolium

Wild quinine (Parthenium integrifolium) is a native plant of North America, found in fields, pastures, and disturbed areas. Its leaves are lanceolate, with small white flowers that grow in dense clusters. The plant is drought-tolerant and requires minimal maintenance. Wild quinine produces fruits that are covered with downy white hairs, known for their medicinal properties. The leaves make a pleasant tea, and are also used to soothe headaches, arthritis pain, and digestive issues. The plant is easy to grow in most soil types, and you can enjoy its showy flowers for most of the summer.

Cycle:

Herbaceous Perennial

Watering:

Minimum

Propagation:

Seed Propagation,Division,Cutting,Layering Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

4 - 8

Flowers:

White Flowers

Sun:

Full sun

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Thorny:

Yes

Invasive:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Wild quinine (Parthenium integrifolium) is a drought-tolerant plant and requires only moderate amounts of water. It prefers moist soil, so it should be watered generously about once a week if the soil is dry or every 3 to 5 days during extremely hot and dry weather. To check soil moisture, stick your finger into the soil about 2 inches deep to determine if additional water is needed. Once established, it can tolerate periods of drought, so it's best not to overwater it. Doing so could lead to root rot and loss of the plant.

sunlight

Wild quinine, or Parthenium integrifolium, needs at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day to grow and thrive. During the summer, it can do well with even more sunlight exposure, but during the winter months the plant should be kept in a sheltered area to reduce the sunlight available to it. Wild quinine should receive morning and afternoon sunlight, ideally around 8am and 4pm – but this may vary depending on the season. Avoid placing the plant in full sun during the hottest times of day, which may cause burn spots and wilting.

pruning

Wild quinine (Parthenium integrifolium) should be pruned at the end of the growing season when the plant is done flowering. Pruning should involve removing dead, unhealthy or diseased material in order to encourage healthy regrowth. Pruning should be kept to a minimum, as excessive pruning can cause damage and stress to the plant's growth. Trimming the shoots of the wild quinine to about 1-third of its height can promote bushier growth, as well as promoting better air circulation, and reduce disease and pest problems.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Parthenium integrifolium typically starts flowering in April.

Hardiness Map