One of the fun things about writing this blog is the inevitable research rabbit hole. We’ll start by digging into one topic and then find ourselves discovering something entirely different and equally fascinating. That’s what happened here—in doing some research on invasive plants we discovered the wild and wonderful world of wireweed. This plant—or rather, group of plants—is an edible, traditional medicinal plant, and invasive depending on where and how you view it. Many of us have it growing in our yards and gardens and don’t even know it. So join us as we learn a little bit more about wireweed and other Sida species. Let’s dig in!
Gardzen Executive Summary
· Wireweed isn’t a single plant, but rather a collection of species of the genus Sida.
· Sida species are all members of the family Malvaceae, meaning that they’re mallows.
· Wireweed species grow around the world, most commonly in tropical and sub-tropical regions.
· Wireweed species are most commonly found in moist or marshy soil and thrive on recently disturbed ground.
· These plants have many uses as traditional medicinal plants, culinary plants, and sources of fabric or fiber.
· We do not recommend eating any wireweed/Sida species as they contain toxic alkaloids and many cause bad reactions in humans who consume them.
· Wireweed appears in unlikely places, and it’s fun to look for them when we’re out and about!
Wireweed: One Name, Many Plants
Wireweed is yet another reminder of how important it is to use scientific names/Latin binomials when discussing plants. “Wireweed” is a colloquial name for a collection of closely related plants which are also physically quite similar to each other. Species sometimes referred to as wireweed include the following:
· Sida cordifolia
· Sida elliotti
· Sida espinosa
While there are visual differences between them, these plants are all members of the Malvaceae family, meaning that they’re colloquially all mallows. Their flowers reflect this, with a classic mallow shape, five petals in a variety of colors, a number of sepals and a multiple pistils. The leaves are likewise similar, unlobed ovular leaves with serrated edges and radial veins. They’re typically a medium-dark green and not especially shiny, but that may vary a bit. Stems are likewise green or reddish-green, and while herbaceous—meaning they’re not woody—they can grow quite tall at times.
Sida species have a habit of spreading quickly, and many are found around the world in tropical and sub-tropical regions. This is especially true in the Americas, where Sida species are widespread. Many of us have pulled Sida weeds in our gardens recently, and we might not have even realized it!
Do Pollinators Like Wireweed?
The short answer is “yes!”, pollinators love wireweed and it provides food for many species of butterflies, bees, and other wonderful bugs. The long answer is even more interesting: Sida species serve as the host for the larvae of butterfly species including the wonderfully-named tropical checkered skipper. Wireweed is an important little plant for many other butterfly and moth species as well, which makes it a great choice for a pollinator garden or wildflower garden.
Do Humans Use Wireweed?
For many of us now, wireweed is, well, a weed. Historically however humans had a much different relationship with this plant and even now in various places around the world wireweed is a useful and much-used plant.
The stems of many wireweed species are comprised of long, durable fibers, making them perfect for various human uses like making rope and cordage, making brooms, and weaving fabric. “Broomweed” is a colloquial name for these plants in many regions, giving us a clue as to where it was used to make sweeping tools. Rope and cordage making was especially common in South Asia and those products were often exported to the rest fo the world in the 19th century. To this day in parts of the Philippines, the fibers of Sida rhombifolia are used to weave a fabric called “walis” or “walissima”. This coarse, durable fabric is used much like we use burlap or jute.
So, is wireweed edible? The answer is “yes, but you probably shouldn’t.” Wireweed species are sometimes used as a foodstuff around the world—the fruits and the young greens are most commonly eaten. However, we do not recommend eating any wireweed or Sida species because these plants tend to contain varying levels of toxic alkaloids and may cause serious health issues in some folks. It’s best to appreciate wireweed species for their aesthetics and their environmental role rather than for their culinary uses.
Where Does Wireweed Grow?
Wireweed isn’t one plant, but rather a collection of species as we note above. However, they do tend to like the same conditions as many other members of the Malvaceae family. Warm weather, moist soil up to marsh-like conditions, and pastureland are all common factors in the success of wireweed species. These are “first responder” plants, growing on recently disturbed ground and in waste space and neglected stretches of ground.
When we’re out and about, it can be interesting to examine these transitional or overlooked spaces and see what plants are growing there. This is how we discovered wireweed and how we hope to discover more interesting plants in the future. Sometimes the weeds we overlook are among the most fascinating plants we encounter out there.
If you know more about the uses, growth, or history of wireweed, let us know in the comments or via email. Gardzen is all about community and we love to hear from you!
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