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Dunbible-weed

Ambrosia psilostachya

Last reviewed: June 2026

Dunbible-weed (Ambrosia psilostachya)
Photo: Sue Ann Kendall / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

Light

full sun

Water

low

Size

12"–36" H × 12"–24" W

Bloom

Jul, Aug, Sep

Native to

AL, AR, AZ, CA and 37 more states

Pollinators

bees, beetles

Browse plants for this ecoregion

Coast RangeSierra NevadaCentral California ValleyCentral California Foothills and Coastal MountainsSouthern California/Northern Baja CoastCentral Basin and RangeMojave Basin and RangeChihuahuan DesertsCentral Oklahoma/Texas PlainsEdwards PlateauSouthern Texas PlainsTexas Blackland PrairiesEast Central Texas PlainsWestern Gulf Coastal PlainSouth Central PlainsSonoran Basin and Range

Western ragweed is a drought-tolerant native perennial that produces inconspicuous greenish flowers from summer through fall. This low-maintenance plant spreads naturally and thrives in sunny, dry conditions with minimal care.

In an HOA neighborhood

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

Works well in: backyard only.

  • Common name includes 'weed' which creates negative perception
  • Spreads aggressively and can look unkempt
  • May trigger allergies due to pollen production

Wildlife value

The flowers attract bees and beetles during the long blooming season. As a member of the sunflower family, it provides late-season pollen when many other flowers have finished.

Native range data from the USDA PLANTS Database and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

Does Dunbible-weed fit your yard? Open it in Pollinator Patch to check it against your sun, soil, and HOA-conscious filters.

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