How to Grow and Care for snakeweeds

Broom snakeweed, or Gutierrezia sarothrae, is also known as broomweed or simply snakeweed. It was once used by indigenous peoples to make brooms by binding its stiff stems together, giving it its name. This type of shrub is a flowering member of the daisy family, and is highly adaptable to extreme conditions like drought, rocky soil, and high elevations. Twigs from broom snakeweed have long been used as kindling for campfires.

Threadleaf snakeweed (Gutierrezia microcephala) is a perennial shrub that is native to the southwestern United States. It blooms from spring to fall with yellow daisy-like flowers. It is a reliable food source for bees butterflies and birds while providing habitat for other small animals. Can be toxic to goats and sheep. Other common names include broomhead match weed and littlehead snakeweed.

San joaquin snakeweed is a resilient shrub native to the Californian landscape, thriving in its dry and sunny conditions. It features narrow leaves and bright yellow flowers that are small yet vivid, forming dense clusters. This hardy plant typically grows in open areas and is adapted to survive in arid environments with its drought-resistant qualities. Its presence often graces chaparral and coastal sage scrub communities, reflecting san joaquin snakeweed's integral role in these ecosystems.