Wild Quinine

Welcome to GardenCities' nature-centric real estate blog! Today, we're taking a closer look at a truly remarkable Virginia native plant that I have come to love: Wild Quinine (Parthenium integrifolium). This plant contributes to a healthier ecosystem and offers several compelling benefits for homeowners and nature lovers alike.

Wild Quinine is a perennial that grows well in dry conditions and prefers full sun. It thrives in our local clay soils, and its remarkable drought tolerance means it can withstand even the harshest summer months without requiring constant watering. The plant is also remarkably resistant to deer and rabbits, two common garden pests that can wreak havoc on any landscape.

Wild Quinine flowers grow in clusters and are white with a soft appearance. The stems are upright with large gray-green leaves. It is not particularly showy but looks lovely with Purple Coneflowers, Black-Eyed Susan, or Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) acting like a filler in the flower bed.

One of Wild Quinine's standout features is its ability to attract a wide variety of pollinators. The plant produces clusters of small, white flowers that bloom from late spring to early autumn, providing a feast for bees, flies, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. 

Wild Quinine plays a crucial role in supporting our native bee population. It's frequented by sweat bees (Halictus, Lassioglossum, and Agapostemon), mining bees (Andrena), small carpenter bees (Ceratina), and yellow-faced bees (Hylaeus), among others. 

The perennial is furthermore a fly favorite, attracting soldier flies (Stratiomys and Odontomyia), Syprhid flies (Syrphidae), Tachnid flies (Tachnidae), and others. Far from the common housefly, these flies are both pollinators and predators. In their larval form, many of these flies are valuable pest-eating insects.

Wild Quinine, also known as wild Feverfew, has been used to treat various ailments for centuries. During World War I, the US Army used Wild Quinine as a substitute for the bark of the Cinchona tree, which is the active ingredient of quinine used to treat malaria.

In summary, Wild Quinine is a versatile and valuable addition to any garden or landscape. Its pollinator-attracting capabilities and resistance to drought, deer, and rabbits make it a must-have for those looking to create a sustainable and environmentally friendly outdoor space. If you consider adding this resilient native plant to your garden, it can be purchased here in seed form or small plugs. https://www.prairienursery.com/wild-quinine-parthenium-integrifolium.html

Sources:

https://www.pollinatorsnativeplants.com/

https://www.xerces.org/blog/wild-quinine