Redwhisker clammyweed is an unusual-looking annual with sesame-smelling leaves. Many sources claim that it has a sulfur-like smell, but I have not found this to be true. I even asked others for their opinion in case there’s something wrong with my sniffer. In any case, the sticky, strongly-fragrant leaves are a deterrent to herbivores, who want nothing to do with this plant.
If the flowers look sort of familiar to you, it’s probably because you’ve seen the closely related, bat-pollinated spiderflowers. I’m not sure if these are bat-pollinated like the latter, but it’s certainly difficult to tell them apart. The difference between clammyweeds and spiderflowers is that the explosive seedpods remain erect on the former, while they dangle down on the latter. This particular species also remains significantly smaller compared to spiderflowers, only reaching 1-2ft tall. This makes it a great addition to borders, edges, etc. Allow it to continue to re-seed in your garden for reliable blooms year after year.
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