1. California Bush Sunflower – Encelia californica
(en-SEEL-ee-uh cal-i-FOR-ni-cuh)
Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower family)
Native to: Central CA to Baja; Coastal Strand, Coastal Sage Scrub & Chaparral, coastal slopes, bluffs
woody sub-shrub
mature height:
2-5 ft
mature width: 2-6 ft
Drought-deciduous woody shrub with many stems emerging from a single base. Simple leaves. Shortlived – perhaps 10 years in garden, probably longer with less water.
Growth characteristics:
Dec-June; Many yellow “sun-flower” blooms on slender stalks. Many insect pollinators
including bees, butterflies, even beetles.
Flower has a wine-like fragrance when sniffed.
Blooms:
Uses in the garden: good for covering/stabilizing slopes. Excellent for restoring degraded areas. Can
be used as informal hedge. Fills in quickly, so good paired with longer-lived shrubs such as Ceanothus.
Attractive flowers over long period. Good insect/bird plant. Leaves, stems were used for medicinal and
ceremonial purposes by Native Californians.
Sensible substitute for: non-native bush sunflowers.
bees and butterflies; Goldfinches and other seed-eating birds love the seeds.
habitat value, leave spent flowers on the plant.
Attracts:
For best
Requirements:
Element
Sun
Soil
Water
Fertilizer
Other
Requirement
Full or part-sun
Any well-drained; any pH
Occasional once established; very drought-tolerant, but will loose leaves in drought.
Tolerates some summer water
None needed
Tolerates seaside conditions (salty air and soil)
Management: cut back to 1 ft in fall or early winter. May be severely pruned (to base) for fullness.
For better appearance, deadhead (remove dead flowers) regularly.
Propagation: from seed: in spring - barely cover and keep moist
Reseeds on bare ground.
by cuttings: easy from dormant
hardwood cuttings in fall/early winter.
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1-3, 7, 8, 10, 13, 14, 16, 19-21, 24, 25, 28
11/28/10
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