California Bush Sunflower
(Encelia californica)
California Bush Sunflower (Encelia californica)
/
/
Bri Weldon
CC BY 2.0
Image By:
Bri Weldon
Recorded By:
Copyright:
CC BY 2.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Bri Weldon | License Type: CC BY 2.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ | Uploader: briweldon | Publisher: Flickr
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Encelia californica, commonly known as California Bush Sunflower, is a summer deciduous subshrub or shrub native to coastal sage scrub and chaparral ecosystems in California and Baja California, Mexico. It typically grows to a height of 50–150 cm (20-60 inches) and has a bushy form with many thin branches. The leaves are green, widely spaced, and have a rounded diamond shape. From late winter to early summer, it produces showy daisy-like flower heads with 15 to 25 bright yellow ray florets surrounding a center of yellowish to purplish-brown disc florets, attracting pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
California Bush Sunflower is valued for its bright yellow flowers and its ability to thrive in dry conditions, making it an excellent choice for water-wise gardens, native plant landscapes, and wildlife gardens. It is also used for erosion control on slopes. This plant is highly adaptable to various soil types, provided they have good drainage, but it is not frost-tolerant. It requires full sun exposure to flourish and has low water needs once established. While generally disease-free, it can be susceptible to root rot in poorly drained soils.CC BY-SA 4.0
California Bush Sunflower is valued for its bright yellow flowers and its ability to thrive in dry conditions, making it an excellent choice for water-wise gardens, native plant landscapes, and wildlife gardens. It is also used for erosion control on slopes. This plant is highly adaptable to various soil types, provided they have good drainage, but it is not frost-tolerant. It requires full sun exposure to flourish and has low water needs once established. While generally disease-free, it can be susceptible to root rot in poorly drained soils.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Shrub
- Height: 3-5 feet
- Width: 2-3 feet
- Growth Rate: Rapid
- Flower Color: Yellow
- Flowering Season: Spring
- Leaf Retention: Semi-deciduous
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun
- Water: Low
- Drainage: Fast
Common Uses
Bank Stabilization, Bee Garden, Border Plant, Butterfly Garden, Drought Tolerant, Groundcover, Low Maintenance, Potted Plant, Salt Tolerant, Showy Flowers, Street Planting
Natural Habitat
Coastal sage scrub and chaparral ecosystems in California and Baja California, Mexico
Other Names
Common Names: California Coast Sunflower, California Brittlebush, California Encelia
Scientific Names: , Encelia californica, Encelia californica var. californica, Encelia conspersa,
GBIF Accepted Name: Encelia californica Nutt.