Pacific dodder
Cuscuta pacifica
Last reviewed: September 2026
Pacific dodder (Cuscuta pacifica) is a annual vine native to CA, OR, WA. It blooms in June, July, and August. The flowers draw bees and flies.
Toxicity unknown
Pacific dodder (Cuscuta pacifica) 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
2"–12" H × 24"–96" W
Bloom
Jun, Jul, Aug
Native to
CA, OR, WA
Pollinators
bees, flies
Before you buy
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Leafless, parasitic annual vine that forms tangled masses of bright orange thread-like stems draped over pickleweed and other salt marsh plants, drawing water and nutrients directly from its host rather than rooting in soil.
Growing Pacific dodder
Grow Pacific dodder in full sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 2 to 12 inches tall and spread 24 to 96 inches wide.
Wildlife value
Tiny white flowers provide a minor nectar source for small bees and flies within salt marsh habitats, though the plant itself is parasitic on neighboring vegetation.
Common questions
- How much sun does Pacific dodder need?
- Pacific dodder grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Pacific dodder bloom?
- Pacific dodder blooms in June, July, and August.
- Where is Pacific dodder native?
- Pacific dodder (Cuscuta pacifica) is native to CA, OR, WA, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- What pollinators does Pacific dodder attract?
- Pacific dodder draws bees and flies.
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 Pacific dodder? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.