Poverty Weed

Full sun. Nearly evergreen, with narrow willow-like leaves and airy foliage. Greenish flowers and silvery seedheads appear in autumn, ascending in plumelike boughs. It was once widely planted to prevent erosion (as nicknames like Roosevelt Weed and New Deal Weed attest.) It’s one of the first pioneers in any abandoned farm field and you’re more likely to encounter it as a weedy volunteer than for sale in a nursery; it spreads quickly in any disturbed soil. Consider retaining it in native landscapes, alleyways and other edges for instant wildscaping. It attracts birds and butterflies.