woodland wildflower

Wild quinine

Parthenium integrifolium

Also known as American Fever-few

Native to much of the USA

Maryland to southeastern Minnesota, south to Georgia, Alabama and Arkansas

Light Partial shade Sun tolerance
Moisture Moisture preference
Zones 4–8 Cold to heat range
Bloom May–Sep Flowering time
Height up to 3 ft to 0.9 m
Life cycle Perennial Annual to perennial

Full details, see below

In the garden

A woodland wildflower for partial shade. At up to 3 ft, it suits shade gardens and woodland edges. Hardy in USDA zones 4–8.

Growing conditions

Light

Full sun Partial shade Full shade

Moisture

Dry Moist Wet

Hardiness zones

Find your zone:

Pollinators & wildlife

Bees Common Eastern Bumble Bee

also Western Honey Bee, Brown-belted Bumble Bee, Ligated Furrow Bee +22 more
Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee, Confusing Furrow Bee, Texas Leafcutter Bee, Cresson's Mining Bee, Silver-tailed Petalcutter, Calliopsis Cuckoo Nomad Bee, Ceratina dupla, Cresson's Masked Bee, Colletes nudus, Experienced Sweat Bee, Osmia conjuncta, Heriades variolosa, Nomada affabilis, Illinois Cuckoo Sweat Bee, minor cuckoo sweat bee, Leavitt's Armored-Resin bee, Lasioglossum sp.1, Sphecodes dichrous, Augochlorella persimilis, Leioproctus clypeatus, Augochlora feronia, Short-horned Yellow-face Bee
Beetles Goldenrod Soldier Beetle

also Margined Leatherwing Beetle, Banded Longhorn Beetle, Tomentous Soldier Beetle +15 more
Slender Flower Longhorn Beetle, Black Diabrotica, Eight-spotted Flower Longhorn Beetle, Red-winged Longhorn Beetle, Notch-tipped Flower Longhorn Beetle, Ten-spotted Spurleg, Stenocorus cylindricollis, Mordellistena comata, Glacial Lady Beetle, Tumbling Ragdoll, Valgus canaliculatus, Brachyleptura vagans, Chlorophorus glaucus, Wrinkled Soldier Beetle, Sumac Flea Beetle
Flower flies Margined Calligrapher

also Eastern Calligrapher, Thick-legged Hover Fly, Eurasian Drone Fly +7 more
Virginia Giant Hover Fly, Common Grass Skimmer, Tufted Globetail, Wavy Mucksucker, Toxophora amphitea, Eastern Orange-tailed Leafwalker, Sphaerophoria cylindricus
Also visited by
- Butterflies:
  
  Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Pearl Crescent +5 more
  Viceroy, American Snout, Red-banded Hairstreak, Banded Hairstreak, Heodes hypophlaeas
- Wasps:
  
  Bald-faced Hornet, Fraternal Potter Wasp +6 more
  Bramble Mason Wasp, Parasitic Aerial Yellowjacket, Parancistrocerus leionotus, Zethus spinipes, Hidalgo Mason Wasp, Ancistrocerus campestris
- Moths:
  
  Yellow-collared Scape Moth, Wavy-lined and Southern Emeralds +2 more
  Ironweed Clearwing Moth, Isabella Tiger Moth

Butterflies that use this plant

Documented host and nectar records. Each links to a planting guide for that butterfly.

Full plant details

Where it grows

Habitat: WoodlandThe wild plant community it grows in.
Native range: Much of the USAUnited States (23): AL, AR, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NY, OH, PA, SC, TN, VA, WI, WV. Where it grows wild on its own, by state and province.
Native distribution: Maryland to southeastern Minnesota, south to Georgia, Alabama and ArkansasThe same native range, usually more exact than the state list, and often noting where it has spread beyond it.

Growing conditions

Light: Partial shadeHow much sun it takes, from full sun to full shade.
Hardiness zones: USDA 4–8 · Canadian 5–7The cold-to-heat climate range it survives.
Soil: Well-drained soilsThe soils it grows in naturally.
Soil texture: Light to heavy (sandy to clay)The soil grade it prefers, from sand to clay.
Soil pH: Mildly acid to mildly alkalineThe acidity to alkalinity it tolerates (7 is neutral).

Growth & form

Height: up to 3 ft (to 0.9 m)Typical mature height.
Life cycle: PerennialWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).

Flowers, foliage & fruit

Type: WildflowerWhat kind of plant it is.
Bloom: May–SepWhen it flowers.
Flower color: WhiteThe bloom color, or colors.
Toxicity: None knownWhether any part is poisonous to people or pets.