Practical
Plants

Parthenium argentatum

Guayule

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Parthenium genus in the family Compositae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Height
1 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Insects, Wind, Apomixy
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects, Wind, Apomixy

Uses

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A source of rubber obtained by mechanical maceration of the roots and/or stems.[5][2][3]. Yields of up to 240 kilos per hectare per year are possible (harvested when plants are 5 years old)[2].

Product or use
Latex

Environment

Range
South-western N. America - Mexico to Texas.
Habitat
Limestone ridges and highly calcareous soils[2] in arid and semi-arid habitats[4].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
low
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
drought
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - we have no details for this species but suggest sowing the seed in a greenhouse in early spring. Only just cover the seed. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a very well-drained soil in full sun[4]. Prefers a sandy soil but cultivated plants succeed on most soils except clay[2]. Established plants are very drought resistant[2]. This species is not very hardy in Britain, plants dislike winter temperatures falling below -10°c and suffer damage below -15°c[1]. In particular, they dislike fluctuating winter temperatures and excessive winter wet[2]. Plants grow well but give a poor yield of latex when growing in areas of higher rainfall[2]. (This refers to the very low levels of rain the plant experiences in its native habitat). More rubber is produced if the plant is prevented from flowering[2]. British summers are possibly not warm enough for this plant to thrive[2].

References

  1. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩

  2. Polhamus. L. G. Rubber: Botany, Cultivation and Utilization.

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9

  3. Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00

    ↩

  4. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  5. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

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