Rough Cocklebur

Xanthium strumarium

Native to:
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andaman Is., Baleares, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, China, Corse, Czechia-Slovakia, East Aegean Is., France, Greece, Hainan, Hungary, India, Iran, Italy, Kriti, Krym, Laos, Lebanon-Syria, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicobar Is., North Caucasus, NW. Balkan Pen., Pakistan, Palestine, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Sardegna, Sicilia, Sinai, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Taiwan, Thailand, Transcaucasus, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Turkmenistan, U.S. Minor Outlying Islands, Ukraine, United States, Uzbekistan

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Asteraceae
Genus:
Xanthium
Species:
Xanthium strumarium
USDA Symbol:
XAST

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Annual
Growth Habit:
Forb/herb
Height:
150 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
Medium
Bloom Months:
jul,aug,sep,oct
Bloom Colors:
green

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
Caterpillars:
★★☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Adaina montana, Common Pinkband (Ogdoconta cinereola), corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea), Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), Helcystogramma melantherella, Phaneta imbridana, Ragweed Borer Moth (Epiblema strenuana), stalk borer moth (Papaipema nebris), underworld dart (Agrotis subterranea), Variegated cutworm (Peridroma saucia), Bordered Patch (Chlosyne lacinia)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
birds
Deer Resistant:
Yes
Salt Tolerant:
Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
sandy, nutrient-poor, well-drained soil
pH:
5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
tolerates poor drainage
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
often found in disturbed areas and riverbanks

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
None required
Germination Time:
7–21 days
Notes:
Seeds have two embryos with staggered germination; one germinates readily while the second may remain dormant for a year or more.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI