Thelesperma Species, Navajo Tea, Field Coreopsis, Greenthread, Plains Greenthread, Stiff Greenthread

Also known as stiff greenthread, fineleaf thelesperma, threadleaf thelesperma and Hopi tea, Thelesperma filifolium is a Texas native plan...Read Moret (native to other states as well). The genus Thelesperma is distinctive to North America. It is often found growing in shallow soils, preferring disturbed sites in dry, sandy or gravelly soil with a neutral to basic (alkaline) PH. It adapts to various soil types including loam, clay and caliche. It can be seen growing on open, weedy sites, dry plains, valleys, hills and mesas. In Texas, it can be found growing along roadsides and on dry hills in the South Texas Plains and Edwards Plateau regions. The herb grows over much of the plains and mountain states, reaching up to Wyoming, Montana, Nebraska and South Dakota. It grows prolifically on the Navajo, Hopi, and Pueblo lands, as well as throughout much of New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado. Having a taproot, it is extremely drought tolerant, but loves the rain or a good soak.


The designation greenthread is most appropriate, as it has has thin, thread-like leaves. It can be single-stemmed to multi-stemmed reaching a height of between 12" and 26". The leaves are scattered along the whole stem. Greenthread blooms between March and June and often into the fall. The daisy-like, 2 inch, eight ray flowers are goldish-yellow and the numerous disk flowers are reddish to dark brown. The urn-shaped bloom buds droop downward prior to opening. The inner whorl of phyllaries (sepal-like bracts, small bracts associated with the flower heads) surrounding the lower portion of the bloom is translucent which allows the colors of the developing flowers to be seen. When the bloom is open, at the base of the bloom, there are two types of phyllary:one is short and green, the other is red and long. The ripened seeds are a food source for the multi-colored painted bunting. It does not appear to be ravaged by deer. It is also a good larval and nectar plant for butterflies and is a larval food for the dainty sulphur butterfly. The crushed leaves offer a pleasant aroma and have been used for tea.

Being used to make a beverage tea which is sometimes used medicinally by several Native American tribes, especially those in the southwest the names Navajo Tea, Hopi Tea, or Indian tea reflect its use by these populations. But, its main use is in the Southwest. How to make the tea: (1) harvest the plant just as the flower buds open, cutting it to within 2-3 inches above the soil and then wash the plants. (2) Let it dry. Fold the dried plant into uniform 4 inch lengths. (3) Bundled with string into units of about 6 grams each for storage and use. (4) Boil a bundle of the herb in about 6 cups of water for about 5 minutes. A sweetener can be added. The taste is somewhat like that of standard green tea, but has a very slight aromatic taste. It may be enjoyed without any sweetener.