OREGON GUMWEED; Grindelia Stricta (Oregon Native)
- Appearance: Forms low clumps or sprawling bushes up to 3 to 6 feet tall, with green, rusty red, or purplish stems.
- Leaves: Thick, fleshy, green leaves up to 15 centimeters long that feature a gummy, sticky exudate with a tar-like scent designed to reduce water loss.
- Flowers: Bright yellow, daisy-like flower heads up to 5 centimeters wide with sticky green cup-like bracts (phyllaries).
- Bloom Time: Flowers from June through September (or as late as December in some coastal regions).
Habitat and Ecology
- Native Range: Coastal marshes, beaches, dunes, and bluffs from Alaska down to California.
- Ecology: Acts as a vital late-season source of nectar and pollen for native bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.
- Uses: Historically, the sticky white exudate on the buds was used by Indigenous peoples as an adhesive. Today, it is valued in native gardening, rain gardens, and pollinator meadows for its drought tolerance and low maintenance once established.
