Encelia farinosa     
Brittle bush   
Asteraceae Family     

Encelia farinosa in modest bloom

Form: rounded, almost herbaceous, shrub
Seasonality: evergreen, or perennial
Size: 3ft with equal spread; rapid growth
Leaves: triangular, simple, alternate; silvery, gray or whitish; top is uniform, underside more pubescent
Flowers: terminal clusters of composite, daisy-like yellow flowers; held on stalks above foliage; bloom in spring and then sporadically in response to rain
Fruit: seed
Stems/Trunks: herbaceous habit; lower stems are semi-succulent, storing water
Range/Origin: throughout the Sonoran and Mohave deserts
Hardiness: tip damage in the twenties; recovers quickly

 

flower detail

  LANDSCAPE VALUE:

• revegitation
• xeriscape
• medians
• color; abundant bloom in season and silver foliage year round

CULTURAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Exposure: full sun, reflected heat
• Water: low to none; water during prolonged dry periods
• Soil: adaptable; good drainage; naturally on south facing slopes of hillsides
• Propagation: seed, very easy
• Maintenance: moderate; remove unsightly seed heads after blooms fade to expose attractive foliage; cut back in fall to promote herbaceous growth

NOTES:

desirable for silvery color; over watering causes the plant to be more green

in revegetation mixes, use low percentage of E. farinosa because it tends to dominate others in mix

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This page was first created July 4, 2001 and last modified June 1, 2006.

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