Coastal ragweed
Ambrosia hispida
Last reviewed: September 2026
Toxicity unknown
Coastal ragweed (Ambrosia hispida) 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
4"–12" H × 24"–60" W
Bloom
May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Native to
FL
Before you buy
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A low, mat-forming subshrub with finely divided, silvery-green leaves that spreads by runners across sandy dunes. Flowers are small, greenish, and wind-pollinated rather than showy, so it reads as a groundcover rather than a bloom feature.
Wildlife value
Its dense, sprawling mat stabilizes loose sand and provides ground cover for small dune wildlife; the pollen is wind-dispersed rather than insect-collected.
Common questions
- How much sun does Coastal ragweed need?
- Coastal ragweed grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Coastal ragweed bloom?
- Coastal ragweed blooms in May, June, July, August, September, and October.
- Where is Coastal ragweed native?
- Coastal ragweed (Ambrosia hispida) is native to FL, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
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
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Coastal ragweed? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
Planning a bed around it? Start a free plan with this plant
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