Common Ragweed
Ambrosia artemisiifolia
An annual herbaceous plant featuring deeply lobed, fern-like green leaves and upright, slender spikes of small greenish flowers.
- Light
- Full sun, requiring 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily
- Water
- Low to moderate watering needs; highly drought-tolerant once established. Water when the top few centimeters of soil dry out completely.
- Growth
- An upright annual herb typically growing between 30 to 150 centimeters tall with a branching habit and moderate to fast growth rate.
Care instructions
Generally managed as a wild weed rather than cultivated. Prefers full sun exposure, well-draining soil, and natural rainfall, though it adapts easily to disturbed environments.
Growing details
Sunlight
Full sun, requiring 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily
Watering
Low to moderate watering needs; highly drought-tolerant once established. Water when the top few centimeters of soil dry out completely.
Soil
Adaptable to a wide range of soil types including sandy, loamy, and clay soils, with a preferred pH range between 6.0 and 7.5.
Hardiness zone
USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 9
Growth habit
An upright annual herb typically growing between 30 to 150 centimeters tall with a branching habit and moderate to fast growth rate.
Bloom season
Blooms from mid-summer through autumn, producing small, inconspicuous green or yellowish flower clusters on terminal spikes.
Propagation
Propagates exclusively through seed production, dispersing large quantities of seeds annually into the surrounding soil.
Common pests & issues
Susceptible to general garden pests such as aphids and leaf beetles, as well as fungal issues like powdery mildew in overly humid conditions.
Similar species
Can resemble Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) due to deeply lobed leaves, but differs in its brighter green foliage, distinct flower spike structures, and lack of silvery undersides on the leaves.