Button Burrweed

Button Burrweed: A Small but Mighty Ground Cover

If you’ve ever noticed tiny, feathery-leaved plants sprouting up in disturbed areas across the southeastern United States, you might have encountered button burrweed (Gymnostyles anthemifolia). This unassuming little annual has quietly made itself at home in several southern states, and while it may not win any beauty contests, it has some interesting qualities worth knowing about.

What is Button Burrweed?

Button burrweed is a small annual forb—basically a non-woody herbaceous plant that completes its entire life cycle in one growing season. Originally from South America, this plant has naturalized in parts of the southern United States, where it grows as a low, spreading ground cover with delicate, finely divided leaves that give it an almost fern-like appearance.

You might also see this plant referenced by its scientific synonym, Soliva anthemifolia, in older botanical references.

Where You’ll Find It

In the United States, button burrweed has established populations in Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. It tends to pop up in disturbed areas, vacant lots, roadsides, and other places where the soil has been disrupted and native vegetation hasn’t yet reclaimed the space.

What Does It Look Like?

Don’t expect to be wowed by button burrweed’s flowers—they’re tiny and pretty inconspicuous. The real appeal lies in its foliage, which forms low mats of finely divided, almost lacy leaves. The plant stays quite small, rarely getting more than a few inches tall, making it more of a ground-hugging presence than a showy display.

Should You Plant Button Burrweed?

This is where things get a bit complicated. Button burrweed isn’t native to North America, having arrived from South America and naturalized on its own. While it’s not currently listed as invasive or noxious, it’s worth considering whether there might be better native alternatives for your garden.

Here are some things to consider:

• Low maintenance: Once established, it’s quite drought tolerant and requires minimal care
• Self-seeding: As an annual, it will reseed itself if conditions are right
• Limited wildlife value: Its tiny, wind-pollinated flowers don’t offer much for pollinators
• Adaptable: It can handle various soil conditions and situations

Native Alternatives to Consider

If you’re looking for low-growing native ground covers in the southeastern states, consider these alternatives:

• Wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)
• Partridge pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata)
• Native sedges (Carex species)
• Regional native wildflowers suited to your specific area

Growing Conditions

If you do encounter button burrweed or decide to work with it, here’s what it prefers:

• USDA Zones: 8-10 (based on its current distribution)
• Light: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: Adaptable to various soil types, tolerates poor soils
• Water: Drought tolerant once established, but appreciates occasional watering during dry spells
• Care: Minimal care needed—this is a pretty self-sufficient little plant

The Bottom Line

Button burrweed is one of those plants that exists in the gray area between weed and wildflower. It’s not causing major ecological problems, but it’s also not providing significant benefits to native wildlife. If you’re working on habitat restoration or want to support local ecosystems, native alternatives would be a better choice. However, if you’re dealing with difficult growing conditions where little else will thrive, button burrweed might serve as a temporary ground cover while you work toward more permanent, native solutions.

As with any non-native plant, it’s worth keeping an eye on how it behaves in your garden and being prepared to manage it if it starts spreading more aggressively than you’d like.