Greenthread

Year-round

Greenthread is an Edwards Plateau native wildflower with lacy leaves and cheerful yellow daisy flowers that does best on neglect.

• This is a true Edwards Plateau native, right at home in San Antonio area soil and heat.
• Give it full sun and well drained ground. It actually does better in poor, rocky, sandy or clay soil than rich garden beds.
• It grows a long taproot and does not transplant well, so start seed right where you want the plant to stay.
• Once established it needs very little extra water and handles Texas heat and drought without help.
• It is not on the ASPCA's toxic plant list for cats, dogs, or horses.

Fall

Fall is planting season for greenthread since it germinates as a winter annual ahead of next year's bloom.

• Direct sow seed about 1/16 inch deep in fall. Fall sowing tends to germinate more reliably than spring sowing.
• As a winter annual, most new plants sprout now and grow slowly through the cooler months before the spring growth spurt.
• Let old seed heads dry and drop instead of deadheading them. That is how the plant self sows for next year.
• This plant does not transplant well, so sow seed directly where you want it rather than starting it elsewhere and moving it.

Cutting back any leftover dead stems from last season keeps the bed tidy while new seedlings come up underneath.

Winter

Winter care is hands off. The plant sits as small seedlings or stays dormant until spring warmth brings the growth back.

• Skip watering unless it is unusually dry. Cool weather and normal winter rain are enough for this drought tolerant plant.
• There is not much to do this time of year besides leaving young fall seedlings alone so they can build roots before spring.
• Skip fertilizer through winter. This plant does best in poor soil, not rich feeding.
• If dead stems from last season are still standing, this is a good time to clear them out.

A quick winter cutback of old dead growth keeps the front bed looking clean until spring blooms return.

Spring

Spring is greenthread's big show, with the heaviest flush of yellow flowers happening now.

• Expect the biggest flush of yellow, daisy-like flowers with reddish brown centers from March into June.
• If you did not plant in fall, spring sowing works too. Just chill the seed in moist sand in the fridge for about a month first since fall sowing usually germinates easier on its own.
• Deadhead spent flowers regularly to keep new blooms coming.
• Skip extra fertilizer. Rich feeding makes the plant floppy instead of helping the bloom.

Regular deadheading through spring keeps the bed looking neat and full of color for the front yard.

Summer

Bloom can carry into summer but usually tapers off as the heat builds, and the plant needs almost no water.

• Some flowering can continue into summer, though the heaviest bloom is usually done by June.
• Water is rarely needed. This plant is built for dry Texas summers and soggy soil is more of a risk than drought.
• A small insect larva sometimes feeds on the flower buds and shortens the bloom period. That is normal and does not need treatment.
• Once a plant is done blooming for the year, you can let the seed heads dry on the stem instead of pulling it right away.