Tarweed Fiddleneck: A Hardy Native with a Wild Side
Meet tarweed fiddleneck (Amsinckia lycopsoides), a scrappy annual wildflower that’s as tough as it is unassuming. This native North American plant might not win any beauty contests, but it’s got personality—and some serious survival skills that have helped it spread across much of the continent.
What Is Tarweed Fiddleneck?
Tarweed fiddleneck is an annual forb that belongs to the borage family. As a forb, it’s essentially a non-woody flowering plant that completes its entire life cycle in a single growing season. The plant gets its common name from its distinctive coiled flower clusters that unfurl like the scroll of a fiddle, and from its somewhat sticky, rough-textured foliage.
You might also encounter this plant listed under its synonyms Amsinckia barbata or Benthamia lycopsoides in older botanical references.
Where Does It Grow?
This adaptable plant has quite an impressive range, growing naturally across most of the United States and into Canada. You’ll find tarweed fiddleneck from the Pacific Coast to the Great Plains, and from British Columbia down to Texas. It grows in states including California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, and many others across the country.
The plant appears to be native to most of this range, though it may have been introduced in some northern areas like Alaska.
What Does It Look Like?
Tarweed fiddleneck reaches about 3 feet tall with a single-crowned, upright growth form. The plant has coarse-textured, green foliage that’s notably rough and hairy—definitely not the soft, touchable type of plant you’d want to brush against while weeding!
The flowers are small and yellow, blooming in late spring in those characteristic coiled clusters. While the individual blooms aren’t particularly showy, they do produce brown seeds that can be quite noticeable. The plant maintains its green color through spring and summer before dying back in fall.
Should You Grow Tarweed Fiddleneck?
Here’s where things get a bit complicated. While tarweed fiddleneck is native to most of its range and does provide some benefits to pollinators, there are several important considerations:
The Good
- Extremely drought tolerant once established
- Provides nectar for native bees and other beneficial insects
- Very low maintenance—almost grows itself
- Interesting architectural form with coiled flower clusters
- Supports natural ecosystems as a native plant
The Not-So-Good
- Severe toxicity warning: This plant is severely toxic and can be dangerous to livestock and potentially harmful to pets and humans
- Rough, scratchy foliage isn’t pleasant to handle
- Can spread rapidly by seed
- Has a somewhat weedy, unkempt appearance
- Not commercially available from nurseries
Growing Conditions
If you do decide to work with this plant (keeping safety in mind), it’s remarkably easy to please. Tarweed fiddleneck thrives in:
- Soil: Medium-textured soils work best, with pH ranging from 5.8 to 8.2
- Water: Very drought tolerant; prefers 8-16 inches of annual precipitation
- Sun: Full sun—it’s intolerant of shade
- Temperature: Hardy to -28°F, needs at least 170 frost-free days
- Hardiness zones: Approximately zones 3-9
Planting and Care
The only practical way to propagate tarweed fiddleneck is by seed, as it doesn’t spread vegetatively and isn’t available as nursery plants. Seeds can be sown directly in spring, and with about 225,000 seeds per pound, a little goes a long way!
Once established, this plant needs virtually no care. It has moderate growth rate, medium fertility requirements, and minimal water needs. Just keep in mind that it can self-seed rapidly, so be prepared for potential volunteers in following years.
Best Uses in the Landscape
Given its weedy nature and toxicity, tarweed fiddleneck is best suited for:
- Wild or naturalized areas
- Native plant restoration projects
- Areas where you want to support native pollinators
- Locations away from foot traffic, pets, and livestock
This definitely isn’t a plant for formal gardens, children’s areas, or anywhere near grazing animals.
The Bottom Line
Tarweed fiddleneck is one of those plants that’s fascinating from an ecological perspective but challenging from a gardening standpoint. While it does support native pollinators and ecosystems, its severe toxicity and aggressive self-seeding make it a plant to approach with caution.
If you’re looking for native alternatives that provide similar pollinator benefits without the drawbacks, consider other native wildflowers like California poppies, blanket flower, or native asters—plants that offer beauty, wildlife value, and peace of mind all in one package.
