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Native Plant Society of Texas

Narrowleaf Gumweed

Grindelia lanceolata

Other common name(s):

Fall Gumweed

Family:

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Cross Timbers, Edwards Plateau, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Carbonate Cross Timbers, Eastern Cross Timbers, Grand Prairie, Limestone Cut Plain, Western Cross Timbers
Balcones Canyonlands
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie
Flatwoods, Southern Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous, Subshrub

Height

1
to
5
ft.

Spread

1.5
to
2
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Gravelly, Rocky, Sand, Shallow, Well Drained

Light Requirement

Sun

Water Requirement

Low, Medium

Native Habitat

Grassland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Season

Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Pollen, Seeds

Wildlife Benefit

Bees, Birds

Maintenance

Drought tolerant. Good for for pollinator gardens, pollinator or butterfly gardens, xeriscape, restoration, naturalization. Native habitat: limestone glades and rocky prairies, calcareous beach deposits.

Description

Blooms June-October. Stem erect. Leaves triangular, ovate, or oblong to lance-shaped. Can grow as short-lived perennial or biennial depending on the region. produces yellow flower heads in the summer, usually in flat-topped arrays but sometimes only one per flower stalk. Each head contains 12-36 ray flowers surrounding numerous disc flowers. Flower bracts have sticky resin.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Grindelia littoralis, Grindelia texana, Grindelia lanceolata var. lanceolata, Grindelia lanceolata var. texana, Grindelia texana var. lanceolata

References

1) https://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Grindelia%20lanceolata.png, 2) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=GRLA3 3) https://www.picturethisai.com/care/Grindelia_lanceolata.html 4) https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=277433&isprofile=0&n=1#:~:text=Gardens%20&%20Gardening%20%3E%20Your%20Garden%20%3E,Suggested%20Use:%20Naturalize 5) https://www.usperennials.com/grindelia-lanceolata-narrowleaf-gumweed/#:~:text=Native%20to%20south%20central%20USA,%2C%20xeriscape%2C%20restoration%2C%20naturalization. 6) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=37459#null 7) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Grindelia+lanceolata&formsubmit=Search+Terms 8) https://mowildflowers.net/grindelia-lanceolata-narrowleaf-gumweed/ 9) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grindelia_lanceolata 10) https://www.usperennials.com/grindelia-lanceolata-narrowleaf-gumweed/

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed No Treatment Sow autumn or spring in a cool greenhouse and only just cover the seed. Prick out the plants into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer. https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Grindelia+lanceolata#:~:text=Plant%20Propagation,Cuttings.
Clump Division Division as new growth commences in the spring. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring. https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Grindelia+lanceolata#:~:text=Plant%20Propagation,Cuttings.
Seed Stratification Propagation is easiest from seed, and germination rates are generally high. Achenes placed under a thin layer of soil on wet filter paper at ambient temperature and diffuse light germinate at around 70%, but an 8-day cool pretreatment at 46°F can raise these rates slightly. Germination usually occurs at 2 to 3 weeks at 50–60°F. Seed can be propagated in containers and transplanted, or sown directly on-site in the fall or spring, though October plantings tend to produce higher yields with lower irrigation requirements. https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/pg_grca.pdf
Seed Scarification Place a sheet of sandpaper (medium grit) with the sandy side up in a beer or soda box (one with short sides) on a smooth or hard surface. Place the seeds to be scarified on the sandpaper. Now rub the seeds between the sandpaper for about ½ to 1 minute to wear holes in the impermeable surface of the seed. A second method that works well with about 1/3 to 1 cup of seeds is to place the seeds in a blender and hit the low speed touch blend button several times. Let the blender speed almost reach the maximum of its low setting. The following are some general steps to follow when germination seeds indoors. 1. Use flats, pots, or trays that are about three inches deep. There should be drainage holes in the bottoms of the containers. The containers should be new or else used containers should be soaked in 10% Clorox solution. 2. Fill the container to the top with a moist soil less growing medium and level off. Use a germination mix if possible that contains small particles. There are many soil less mixes on the market that contain predominantly peat moss and vermiculite. The important thing they lack is weed seeds and the fungi that cause damping off of the seedlings. 3. Using a board, hand, or other flat surface mash the loose potting mixture down about ¼ to ½ inch below the top of the container. 4. Sow seeds on the surface of the mix. Small seeds can be evenly scattered over the surface. Shaking them from a saltshaker may help. Larger seeds can also be scattered on the surface or planted in rows. 5. Cover the seeds to a depth that is about twice their diameter. Very small seeds like cardinal flower need no covering at all. The same fine particle germinating mix or fine sifted sphagnum or peat moss can be used to cover seeds. 6. Clearly label and date the seeds in a way that the writing will not be washed away by water. 7. Large and small seeds can be watered from above with a watering can that dispenses small drops. Large droplets tend to splash the seeds around a lot. It is often recommended that small seeds be watered from below by placing a container in a pan of water and letting the mix soak up the water. 8. Many people lay a piece of glass or plastic over the surface of the container to keep the seeds moist until they just begin to germinate. If this is done, don’t keep the seeds in direct sunlight or they may become too warm. The 3 inches of germination mix holds enough water to keep the surface moist during most of a 24 hr period without the use of a glass or plastic covering. This is assuming the air is still and sunlight is not intense. www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/Portals/0/Shaw%20Nature%20Reserve/PDFs/horticulture/Propagation.pdf

About the Region

2026 Fall Symposium Logo

This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason