Photo: Stan ShebsCC BY-SA 3.0via Wikimedia Commonsresized / cropped
Franseria dumosa Plant Care
Ambrosia dumosa (A.Gray) W.W.Payne
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Ambrosia dumosa, the burro-weed or white bursage, a North American species of plants in the family Asteraceae. It is a common constituent of the creosote-bush scrub community throughout the Mojave desert of California, Nevada, and Utah and the Sonoran Desert of Arizona and northwestern Mexico (Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sonora, Chihuahua).
Every 3–5 days
Full sun to partial shade
60–80°F
40–60%
At a glance
How do you care for Franseria dumosa?
Water Franseria dumosa every 3–5 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun to partial shade. It prefers temperatures of 60–80°F (16–27°C) and 40–60% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season. It is reported as toxic to pets, so keep it out of reach of pets.
What Is the Franseria dumosa?
Franseria dumosa (Ambrosia dumosa) belongs to the Asteraceae family within the Ambrosia genus. Franseria dumosa is also known as Gaertneria dumosa.
Franseria dumosa displays a spreading herbaceous perennial growth habit, reaching up to 2 ft tall with a spread of approximately 3 ft. Franseria dumosa produces small green flowers in inconspicuous clusters.
Leaf size: approximately 4 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Franseria dumosa?
Ambrosia dumosa requires watering every 3–5 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 3–5 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Franseria dumosa Need?
Franseria dumosa thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Franseria dumosa Prefer?
Ambrosia dumosa grows best at temperatures of 60–80°F. Franseria dumosa prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.
Temperature
60–80°F
Humidity
40–60%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Franseria dumosa?
Well-draining sandy soil mix with added organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Franseria dumosa to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Franseria dumosa?
Feed Franseria dumosa every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Franseria dumosa?
Repot every 1-2 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Franseria dumosa?
Franseria dumosa can be propagated through seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to common ragweed plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Franseria dumosa Toxic to Pets and Children?
Toxic (caution)
Reported as toxic in our plant data. Not verified by the ASPCA.
Toxic to humans and pets if ingested
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Franseria dumosa?
Franseria dumosa is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, whiteflies. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Franseria dumosa Need?
Franseria dumosa grows outdoors in USDA Zone 13a. It survives winters down to planting zone 13a. In cooler regions, grow Franseria dumosa as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 13a
Keep exploring plants
Franseria dumosa is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Ambrosia genus — compare its care with other Ambrosia species on PlantoScan.
Ambrosia is part of the Asteraceae plant family — browse all Asteraceae genera and species.
Franseria dumosa thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Ambrosia Species
Other Ambrosia species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Ambrosia dumosa (A.Gray) W.W.Payne, family Asteraceae (first published in J. Arnold Arbor. 45: 422 (1964)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Franseria dumosa is reported as toxic to pets in our plant data (not verified by the ASPCA), so treat it with caution. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Photo: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons — original.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 13a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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