Virginia Tech Dendrology

canyon ragweed Asteraceae Ambrosia ambrosioides (Cav.) Payne symbol: AMAM2
Leaf: Alternate, simple, evergreen, elongated triangular to lance-shaped, coarse serrate or toothed, green above and below but covered in pale pubescence, drought deciduous.
Flower: Dull yellow-green, in small clusters borne on a spike, present in late winter to early spring.
Fruit: A spiny bur with slender spines, 1 inch long.
Twig: Reddish brown with white pubescence, stout, brittle, narrow leaf scars.
Bark: Reddish brown and becoming smooth and shiny.
Form: A gangling, sprawling shrub to 6 feet.
Looks like: white bursage - San Diego bursage - triangleleaf bursage

Additional Range Information: Ambrosia ambrosioides is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDA Plants Database
All material 2025 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information