Grindelia humilis
Hairy Gumweed
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Compositae
- Genus
- Grindelia
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 1.5 m
- Fertility
- Insects
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Insects
Uses
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
The dried leaves and flowering tops are antiasthmatic, expectorant and sedative[3]. The principal use of this herb is in the treatment of bronchial catarrh, especially when there is an asthmatic tendency[3]. The active principle is excreted from the kidneys, and this sometimes produces signs of renal irritation[3]. The plant has been used in the treatment of itching skin eruptions caused by contact with poison oak (Rhus spp.)[2]. A homeopathic remedy is prepared from the leaves and flowering stems[3].
- Product or use
- Expectorant
- Product or use
- Homeopathy
- Product or use
- Sedative
- Product or use
- Skin
Material uses
Yellow and green dyes are obtained from the flowering heads and pods. Aromatic.
- Product or use
- Dye
Environment
- Range
- Western N. America.
- Habitat
- Coastal salt marshes[4].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 8+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerances
- drought
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- tolerant
- Salinity
- tolerant
Propagation
Seed - sow autumn or spring in a cool greenhouse and only just cover the seed. Prick out the plants into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer.
Cultivation
Succeeds in any well-drained soil in full sun[1]. Does well on dry sandy banks and in poor soils[1]. This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[1]. There is some confusion over the correct name for this species. The report on medicinal uses in [3] relates to G. cuniefolia, a name that has been used by two authors. G. cuniefolia. non Nutt. is said to be a synonym of G. humilis and so the entry has been made here.
References
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Munz. A California Flora. University of California Press 1959-00-00