When does clammyweed bloom?

Clammyweed typically flowers from June through August, producing clusters of white to pale pink blossoms with long protruding stamens.

What pollinators visit clammyweed?

Bees and beetles are the main visitors to clammyweed flowers, drawn to the exposed pollen and nectar on the elongated stamens.

What growing conditions suit clammyweed best?

Clammyweed does well in full sun to light part sun and prefers low to medium water, thriving in sandy, gravelly, or disturbed open ground.

What kind of plant is clammyweed?

Clammyweed is an annual forb with a distinctive sticky, glandular texture on its stems and leaves, which gives the plant its common name.

Is Clammyweed HOA-friendly?

Clammyweed takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Clammyweed

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Polanisia dodecandra

Last reviewed: August 2026

Polanisia dodecandra, or clammyweed, is a sticky-leaved annual forb that blooms from June through August. It grows in open, sunny sites with sandy or gravelly soil and draws bees and beetles.

Toxicity unknown

Clammyweed (Polanisia dodecandra) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

full sun

Water

low

Size

8"–24" H × 6"–12" W

Bloom

Jun, Jul, Aug

Native to

AL, AR, AZ, CA and 40 more states

Pollinators

bees, beetles

Before you buy

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Polanisia dodecandra is a compact annual wildflower that produces delicate white to pale pink flowers from June through August. This hardy native thrives in full sun with minimal water requirements. The plant maintains a tidy, upright growth habit throughout the growing season.

Growing Clammyweed

Grow Clammyweed in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 8 to 24 inches tall and spread 6 to 12 inches wide. Expect moderate maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Clammyweed takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: moderate. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

Annual nature creates gaps in landscaping each year
Can appear weedy or informal to conventional gardeners
May self-seed unpredictably

Wildlife value

This native forb provides valuable nectar for bees and serves as a host for various beetles during its extended summer blooming period. Its flowers are particularly attractive to native solitary bees and small pollinators.

Common questions

When does clammyweed bloom?: Clammyweed typically flowers from June through August, producing clusters of white to pale pink blossoms with long protruding stamens.
What pollinators visit clammyweed?: Bees and beetles are the main visitors to clammyweed flowers, drawn to the exposed pollen and nectar on the elongated stamens.
What growing conditions suit clammyweed best?: Clammyweed does well in full sun to light part sun and prefers low to medium water, thriving in sandy, gravelly, or disturbed open ground.
What kind of plant is clammyweed?: Clammyweed is an annual forb with a distinctive sticky, glandular texture on its stems and leaves, which gives the plant its common name.
Is Clammyweed HOA-friendly?: Clammyweed takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

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