Species Nuttall's Povertyweed
green leaves with green-brown stems

Nuttall's Povertyweed

Blitum nuttallianum

Nuttall's Povertyweed (Blitum nuttallianum) is an annual flowering plant that is natively found in North America, specifically California, Arizona and New Mexico. It grows to heights of 30–90 cm and features green, oval-shaped leaves, bright yellow flowers, and a thick, erect stem. The flowers most often appear in clusters along the stem as the plant matures. Its abundant, prolific flowers are popular with pollinators, and the weed can often be found gracing the roadsides of its native regions. Nuttall's Povertyweed is easy to identify by its characteristic yellow flowers and poor soil preferences. It is considered an aggressive weed and potential invasive species.

Watering:

Minimal

Propagation:

Seed Propagation,Cutting,Division,Layering Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

Sun:

full sun,part shade

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Invasive:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Nuttall's Povertyweed should be watered deeply and infrequently, approximately once every 2 weeks. It should be watered thoroughly so that the water penetrates at least 4-6 inches into the soil. During periods of extended dry weather, the plant may require an additional watering. Nuttall's Povertyweed prefers moist to wet soil, but it must be allowed to dry out slightly between waterings. During active growth periods, supplemental watering may be needed in order to keep the soil moist.

sunlight

Nuttall's Povertyweed is a warm-season annual that is tolerant of partial shade but ideally prefers full sun. In general, this species prefers 6-8 hours of bright sunlight per day. When grown in full sun, Nuttall's Povertyweed will thrive in the early spring and late summer when the days are longer and temperatures are cooler. During hot summer months, however, it may benefit from some shade to avoid heat stress. In any case, make sure your plant is getting plenty of bright sunlight throughout the day to help it thrive.

pruning

Nuttall's Povertyweed requires minimal pruning and should be pruned at the end of the growing season. Pruning should focus on dead heading, removing dead flower stalks and removing any growth that has been damaged by disease or pest. Pruning should also help to promote a bushy, fuller appearance for the plant. Some selective pruning of weakened or crossing branches can also be beneficial for growing this plant. Pruning should be done as little as possible, given that this plant is not a strong grower. Pruning too much could stunt or kill the plant, so it is best to not over prune this plant.