Gamochaeta purpurea aka Purple Cudweed

Gamochaeta purpurea belongs to the daisy family, Asteraceae. Its common names include early cudweed and purple everlasting. Its native range runs from eastern Canada into tropical America. It grows along coasts, beside roads, and in open fields. It also occurs at woodland edges and on disturbed ground. Outside its native range, it can act as a winter annual weed.

This small herb grows upright to about 1 foot [0.30 metres]. It can flower during its first year. North Carolina State describes an annual or biennial life cycle. Kew also records perennial plants within the species. Its shallow roots form a fibrous system, sometimes with a taproot. Fine hairs cover the green to gray stems. The stems have no scent. Small leaf rosettes form at the base of the plant.

Soft, gray-green leaves grow alternately along the stems. Each simple leaf attaches without a stalk. Leaf shapes range from spoon-shaped to oblanceolate or obovate. Their edges are smooth, though some have slight waves. The tips are pointed, and the bases narrow like wedges. Sparse hairs leave the upper face looking green. Dense wool gives the lower face a whitish look. A clear central vein runs through each leaf.

The small flower heads contain only tubular disc flowers. They have no ray flowers around the edge. Each head can hold as many as 50 flowers. Their color ranges from white to purple. North Carolina State gives April through June as the flowering period. Its seasonal tags also include summer and fall. The fruit is a tiny, tan, bullet-shaped achene. It becomes slimy when wet. A bristly pappus tops each fruit, joining in a basal ring.

Choose full sun for this low-maintenance plant. It grows in sand, loam, or clay. It tolerates dry soil and brief wet spells. Growth proceeds at a moderate rate. Native gardens and naturalized sites suit its wild character. It hosts American lady butterfly larvae, and herbivores browse its leaves. It can be weedy, though less so than related cudweeds. North Carolina State reports no major pest or disease problems. Yet non-native weeds can crowd it out in some places. Massachusetts treats it as endangered and gives it legal protection. Native Americans used it in tea for colds and flu. This historical use does not establish food safety or treatment value.