Cancerwort (Kickxia): A Small but Persistent Garden Visitor
If you’ve ever noticed tiny snapdragon-like flowers popping up in unexpected places around your garden, you might have encountered cancerwort, scientifically known as Kickxia. This unassuming little annual has quietly made itself at home across much of North America, despite its European origins.
What Is Cancerwort?
Cancerwort is a small annual forb that belongs to the snapdragon family. Don’t let the somewhat alarming common name fool you – it’s simply an old folk name that has nothing to do with the plant’s actual properties. This little plant is characterized by its delicate, small flowers and low-growing habit that allows it to tuck itself into various garden nooks and crannies.
Where You’ll Find Cancerwort
As a non-native species that has naturalized across North America, cancerwort has established populations throughout much of the continent. You can find it growing in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. It’s also present in the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Ontario, as well as the District of Columbia.
Should You Grow Cancerwort in Your Garden?
Here’s where things get interesting. Cancerwort falls into that gray area of gardening – it’s not native, but it’s also not typically considered invasive or problematic. Whether you choose to welcome it into your garden really depends on your gardening philosophy and goals.
Reasons You Might Appreciate Cancerwort:
- Low maintenance and drought tolerant once established
- Provides small-scale ground cover in difficult spots
- Attracts small pollinators with its tiny flowers
- Thrives in poor soils where other plants struggle
- Self-seeds readily, filling in bare patches
Reasons You Might Want to Pass:
- As a non-native plant, it doesn’t support native ecosystems as well as indigenous species
- Can be weedy and pop up where you don’t want it
- Limited ornamental value compared to showier alternatives
Growing Conditions and Care
If you decide to work with cancerwort in your landscape, you’ll find it refreshingly undemanding. This little survivor thrives in full sun to partial shade and isn’t particularly picky about soil quality. In fact, it often performs better in poor, well-drained soils than in rich, fertile garden beds.
Since it’s an annual, cancerwort completes its entire life cycle in one growing season, relying on self-seeding to return each year. It’s quite drought tolerant once established and requires minimal care – perhaps too minimal for some gardeners’ tastes!
Design Ideas and Garden Placement
Cancerwort works best in informal garden settings where its somewhat wild nature can be appreciated. Consider it for rock gardens, between stepping stones, in gravel paths, or other areas where you want something growing but don’t need a formal appearance. It’s particularly useful in disturbed soils or areas that other plants find challenging.
Native Alternatives to Consider
If you’re leaning toward supporting native plant communities, consider these indigenous alternatives that offer similar benefits:
- Native sedums for rocky, dry areas
- Regional wildflowers appropriate to your specific location
- Native groundcovers that provide better wildlife habitat
- Local annual wildflowers that support native pollinators
The Bottom Line
Cancerwort represents one of those garden plants that exists in the middle ground – neither hero nor villain. If it’s already established in your area and you appreciate low-maintenance plants that can handle tough conditions, there’s no urgent need to eliminate it. However, if you’re planning new plantings and want to maximize your garden’s ecological benefits, focusing on native species will give you more bang for your buck in terms of supporting local wildlife and ecosystems.
As with any garden decision, the choice is ultimately yours. Whether you embrace this persistent little immigrant or focus on native alternatives, the most important thing is creating a garden space that brings you joy while being mindful of the broader environmental picture.
