Bushclover Dodder: A Native Parasitic Plant You Probably Don’t Want in Your Garden
Meet bushclover dodder (Cuscuta pentagona var. glabrior), a plant that’s as fascinating as it is problematic for gardeners. This native species has a unique lifestyle that sets it apart from almost every other plant in your garden – it’s a parasite that literally lives off other plants!
What Makes Bushclover Dodder Special (and Problematic)
Bushclover dodder is a native annual to perennial forb that belongs to a group of plants known as dodders or devil’s hair. What makes this plant truly unique is that it has abandoned the typical plant lifestyle of photosynthesis. Instead, it appears as thin, thread-like orange to yellow stems that wrap around and penetrate host plants to steal their nutrients and water.
You might also see this plant referenced by its scientific synonym, Cuscuta glabrior, in older botanical references.
Where You’ll Find It
This native dodder naturally occurs across the southwestern United States, specifically in Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Utah. It thrives in USDA hardiness zones 7-10, where it can complete its unusual life cycle.
The Parasitic Lifestyle
Unlike most plants that make their own food through photosynthesis, bushclover dodder has evolved to be completely dependent on other plants. Here’s how it works:
- Seeds germinate in soil but quickly must find a host plant to survive
- The dodder sends out thin, searching stems that wrap around potential hosts
- Once attached, it penetrates the host plant with specialized structures called haustoria
- It then abandons its root system and lives entirely off the host
As its common name suggests, bushclover dodder particularly favors legumes like bushclover, but it can parasitize many different plant species.
Why Gardeners Usually Want to Avoid It
While bushclover dodder is a native species and plays a role in natural ecosystems, it’s generally not welcome in cultivated gardens for several reasons:
- It can weaken or kill host plants by stealing their resources
- Once established, it can spread rapidly through a garden
- It’s difficult to remove without damaging host plants
- It can reduce the vigor and flowering of desirable garden plants
Identification Tips
Recognizing bushclover dodder is relatively easy once you know what to look for:
- Thin, thread-like orange to yellow stems (lacking green color)
- No visible leaves
- Stems that wrap around and climb on other plants
- Small clusters of tiny white flowers during blooming season
- No connection to soil once established on a host
Management Approach
If you discover bushclover dodder in your garden, early intervention is key:
- Remove it as soon as possible before it becomes well-established
- Cut the dodder stems between the host plant and the ground to sever the connection
- Carefully remove dodder stems from host plants
- Monitor the area for new growth from any remaining seeds
The Native Plant Perspective
While bushclover dodder isn’t garden-friendly, it’s worth remembering that as a native species, it has ecological value in natural settings. It produces small flowers that can provide some nectar for pollinators, and it’s part of the complex web of relationships in native plant communities.
If you’re interested in supporting native plants, focus on the many beautiful and garden-friendly native species from your region rather than trying to accommodate this challenging parasitic plant.
The Bottom Line
Bushclover dodder is a fascinating example of how diverse plant life strategies can be, but it’s definitely not a plant most gardeners want to cultivate. Its parasitic nature makes it more of a garden challenge than a garden asset. If you encounter it, appreciate its unique biology from a distance, but don’t hesitate to remove it to protect your other plants!
