How much sun does Compact Dodder need?

Compact Dodder grows best in full sun conditions.

When does Compact Dodder bloom?

Compact Dodder blooms in June, July, and August.

Where is Compact Dodder native?

Compact Dodder (Cuscuta compacta) is native to AL, AR, CT, DE and 23 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).

Is Compact Dodder HOA-friendly?

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

Compact Dodder

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Cuscuta compacta

Last reviewed: August 2026

Toxicity unknown

Compact Dodder (Cuscuta compacta) 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

medium

Size

12"–48" H × 12"–48" W

Bloom

Jun, Jul, Aug

Native to

AL, AR, CT, DE and 23 more states

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 445 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

Find rebates in your area

Browse plants for this ecoregion

East Central Texas Plains South Central Plains Eastern Temperate Forests Ozark Highlands Piedmont Northeastern Coastal Zone Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain Northern Piedmont Southeastern Plains Blue Ridge Interior River Valleys and Hills Mississippi Alluvial Plain Southern Coastal Plain Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens

Compact dodder is an unusual parasitic vine that lacks chlorophyll and appears as tangled masses of thin, orange or yellow stems. It attaches to host plants through specialized structures and derives all its nutrients from them, eventually weakening or killing the host.

In an HOA neighborhood

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

Parasitic nature damages other landscape plants
Creates tangled, unkempt appearance
Considered a noxious weed in many areas

Wildlife value

This plant provides minimal wildlife value and is generally considered more of a pest than a beneficial species in cultivated landscapes.

Common questions

How much sun does Compact Dodder need?: Compact Dodder grows best in full sun conditions.
When does Compact Dodder bloom?: Compact Dodder blooms in June, July, and August.
Where is Compact Dodder native?: Compact Dodder (Cuscuta compacta) is native to AL, AR, CT, DE and 23 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
Is Compact Dodder HOA-friendly?: Compact Dodder takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

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

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