Photo: Kristian Peters -- Fabelfroh 15:16, 26 January 2006 (UTC)CC BY-SA 3.0via Wikimedia Commonsresized / cropped
Gallant Soldier Plant Care
Galinsoga parviflora Cav.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Galinsoga parviflora is a herbaceous plant in the Asteraceae (daisy) family. It has several common names including guasca (Colombia), pacpa yuyo, paco yuyo and waskha (Peru), burrionera (Ecuador), albahaca silvestre and saetilla (Argentina), mielcilla (Costa Rica), piojito (Oaxaca, Mexico), galinsoga (New Zealand), gallant soldier, quickweed, and potato weed (United Kingdom, United States).
Every 2–3 days
Full sun to partial shade
60–80°F
40–60%
At a glance
How do you care for Gallant Soldier?
Water Gallant Soldier every 2–3 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 4 months during the growing season.
What Is the Gallant Soldier?
Gallant Soldier (Galinsoga parviflora) belongs to the Asteraceae family within the Galinsoga genus. Gallant Soldier is also known as Quickweed, Smallflower Gallant Soldier, Galinsoga parviflora.
Gallant Soldier displays a low spreading herb growth habit, reaching up to 0.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1 ft. Gallant Soldier produces small daisy-like flowers in white or yellow.
Leaf size: approximately 1 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Gallant Soldier?
Galinsoga parviflora requires watering every 2–3 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 2–3 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Gallant Soldier Need?
Gallant Soldier thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Gallant Soldier Prefer?
Galinsoga parviflora grows best at temperatures of 60–80°F. Gallant Soldier prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.
Temperature
60–80°F
Humidity
40–60%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Gallant Soldier?
Moist, well-draining soil rich in organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Gallant Soldier to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Gallant Soldier?
Feed Gallant Soldier every 4 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 4 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 Gallant Soldier?
Repot annually in 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 Gallant Soldier?
Gallant Soldier can be propagated through seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to gallant soldier plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Gallant Soldier Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Gallant Soldier, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
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 Gallant Soldier?
Gallant Soldier is susceptible to aphids, whiteflies, spider mites. 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 Gallant Soldier Need?
Gallant Soldier grows outdoors in USDA Zone 13a. It survives winters down to planting zone 13a. In cooler regions, grow Gallant Soldier as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 13a
Keep exploring plants
Gallant Soldier 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 Galinsoga genus — compare its care with other Galinsoga species on PlantoScan.
Galinsoga is part of the Asteraceae plant family — browse all Asteraceae genera and species.
Gallant Soldier thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Galinsoga Species
Other Galinsoga species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Galinsoga parviflora Cav., family Asteraceae (first published in Icon. iii. 41. t. 281.) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Gallant Soldier, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Photo: Kristian Peters -- Fabelfroh 15:16, 26 January 2006 (UTC), 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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