Encelia californica

Encelia californica is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common name California brittlebush. It is also commonly referred to as "California coast sunflower" and "California bush sunflower".[2]

Encelia californica
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Asterids
Order:
Asterales
Family:
Asteraceae
Tribe:
Heliantheae
Genus:
Encelia
Species:
E. californica
Binomial name
Encelia californica
Synonyms[1]

Encelia conspersa A.Gray

Distribution

This shrub is native to southern California (U.S.) and northern Baja California (México). It is a member of the coastal sage plant community at the shoreline, and the chaparral and woodlands plant community on inland foothills in the Transverse and Peninsular Ranges.[2][3][4]

Description

Encelia californica is a bushy, sprawling shrub reaching between 50–150 cm (20-60 inches) in height. It has many thin branches covered in widely spaced green leaves which are a rounded diamond shape.

The solitary flower heads are daisylike, with 15 to 25 bright yellow ray florets 1 to 3 centimeters long around a center of protruding yellowish to purplish brown disc florets.

The fruit is an achene 5 to 7 millimeters long, with no pappus. It blooms from February to June, and attracts butterflies, bees, and other insects.[5]

Uses

It is a host plant for the larvae of the Bay checkerspot butterfly, a threatened species.

Encelia californica is cultivated by specialty nurseries as an ornamental plant, for use in native plant and wildlife gardens, and natural landscaping projects. It is drought tolerant but not frost tolerant, and needs full sun.

See also

References
  1. The Plant List, Encelia californica Nutt.
  2. Calflora taxon report, University of California, Encelia californica Nutt., California brittlebush, California encelia, bush sunflower
  3. Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
  4. Tropicos, specimen listing for Encelia californica Nutt.
  5. Flora of North America Encelia californica Nuttall
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