Thelesperma gracile
At a glance
- Lifecycle
- Perennial (hardy)
- Exposure
- Full sun
Cultivation
Succeeds in any moderately fertile well-drained soil in full sun. This species is not very hardy outdoors in Britain, usually requiring cold greenhouse treatment.
Propagation
Seed - sow spring in situ, only just covering the seed. In dry weather the seed should be watered in. Division might be possible.
Edible uses
Flower buds. No further details are given. A tea is made from the leaves and dried flowers.
Material uses
A fine reddish-brown basketry and textile dye is obtained from the plant. No more details.
Habitat
Dry plains, prairies and roadsides.
Native range
Central and western N. America - Nebraska and Wyoming to Texas, Mexico and Arizona.
Same genus
- Colorado greenthread (Thelesperma ambiguum)
- Burridge's greenthread (Thelesperma burridgeanum)
- Stiff greenthread (Thelesperma filifolium)
- East Texas greenthread (Thelesperma flavodiscum)
- Longstalk greenthread (Thelesperma longipes)
- Hopi tea greenthread (Thelesperma megapotamicum)
- Rio Grande greenthread (Thelesperma nuecense)
- Slender greenthread (Thelesperma simplicifolium)