How to Grow and Care for Tarweeds

Spring madia is a perennial herb native to the coastal areas of western North America. The hairy stems and leaves exude a scented oil. Thanks to its big flowers that have yellow rays, sometimes with a crimson base, this plant was utilized as a decorative flower. Historically, spring madia also served as a source of food for native peoples.

Chilean tarweed (Madia sativa) is a flower that’s a member of the aster family. Another name for it is coast tarweed. The habitat you’ll find it most frequently in is coastal grasslands—hence the name. It’s indigenous to the western Americas.

Mountain tarweed (Madia glomerata) is a resilient member of the aster family native to western North America. It has spread to the northeast portion of the continent semi-invasively as well. Resin within the plant's bristly stalks has a strong and unpleasant smell. It prefers relatively dry soils but is able to grow in damp ground on occasion.

Gumweed (*Madia gracilis*) is easiest to see at dawn and sunset since its bright yellow, summer-blooming flowers close during the daytime to protect themselves from the sun in its native Western USA. This flower was used as a crop by several Native American tribes of California. The plant is called gumweed because it exudes a sticky substance that traps insects to allow pollination.

Small tarweed is a diminutive annual plant with a tendency to thrive in open, sunny fields. Its delicate stature, typically not exceeding a few inches, is complemented by slender stems and narrow leaves, giving it a fine-textured appearance. During its blooming season, small tarweed showcases small, yellow, daisy-like flowers with both ray and disc florets, appealing to a variety of pollinators. Its small size and unobtrusive flowers make it an inconspicuous yet integral part of its native ecosystem.