Spring Pygmycudweed: A Tiny Native with Big Potential
Meet spring pygmycudweed (Evax verna var. drummondii), a delightfully diminutive native plant that’s as charming as its name suggests. This little-known annual forb might just be the perfect addition to your native plant garden – if you can find it!
What Exactly Is Spring Pygmycudweed?
Spring pygmycudweed belongs to the sunflower family and is a true native of the southern United States. As an annual forb, this herbaceous plant completes its entire life cycle in one growing season, making it a fleeting but potentially delightful garden visitor.
Like many native plants, this species has gone through quite the identity crisis over the years. Botanists have shuffled it around under several different names, including Diaperia drummondii and Filaginopsis drummondii. But don’t let the name changes fool you – it’s still the same charming little plant.
Where Does It Call Home?
This southern belle is native to a cozy corner of the United States, naturally occurring in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. If you’re gardening in these states, you’re in luck – you’re working with a true local!
Should You Grow Spring Pygmycudweed?
Here’s where things get a bit tricky. While spring pygmycudweed is undoubtedly a legitimate native plant with ecological value, information about its cultivation is remarkably scarce. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing – it just means you’d be venturing into relatively uncharted gardening territory.
The Case for Growing It:
- It’s a true native species, supporting local ecosystems
- As an annual, it won’t become a permanent commitment if it doesn’t work out
- Small native plants often support specialized wildlife relationships
- You’d be preserving and promoting a lesser-known native species
The Challenges:
- Seeds or plants are extremely difficult to find commercially
- Limited information about specific growing requirements
- May be quite small and inconspicuous in the garden
- Success rates for cultivation are unknown
Growing Conditions and Care
Unfortunately, specific growing information for spring pygmycudweed is limited. However, we can make some educated guesses based on its native habitat and related species:
- Likely prefers full sun to partial shade
- Probably thrives in well-draining soils
- As a native of the southern states, it should handle heat and humidity well
- Being an annual, it will need to reseed each year
If you’re determined to try growing this unique native, your best bet might be to collect seeds from wild populations (where legally permitted) or contact native plant societies in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, or Texas.
The Bottom Line
Spring pygmycudweed represents the fascinating diversity of our native flora – plants that exist quietly in nature, playing their part in local ecosystems without much fanfare. While it may not be the easiest native plant to incorporate into your garden, it serves as a reminder that there’s still so much to discover about the plants that call our regions home.
If you’re interested in supporting native plants but want something more readily available, consider other native annuals from your region that are better documented and easier to source. Your local native plant society or extension office can point you toward natives that will give you a better chance of gardening success while still supporting local wildlife and ecosystems.
