1. Telegraph plant – Heterotheca grandiflora (het-er-oh-THE-kuh grand-ih-FLOR-uh)
Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)
Native to: Much of CA east to NM and south to Baja; grows in open, sandy, disturbed areas in
chaparral, sage scrub, coastal shrub and oak woodland.
Growth characteristics: annual/biennial wildflower mature height: 3-6 ft. mature width: 2-3 ft.
Unusual fall-blooming annual (or short-lived perennial) wildflower. Plants are upright, with stout,
hairy stems. Leaves are drought-deciduous, fuzzy, light gray-green. Plants die back in fall; may re-
sprout a second year. Entire plant is very sticky and aromatic with camphor-like scent.
Blooms/fruits: Blooms from spring to fall, but primarily Aug-Oct. in coastal L.A. County. Flowers
are small, bright yellow, ‘sunflower’ type flower-heads in clusters at the top of the plant. Blooming
plants are attractive, but not wildly showy. Seeds are wind-borne, with fluffy hairs to aid dispersion.
Uses in the garden: Most often used in native habitat gardens, but would be right at home in many
flower gardens with spring-blooming annuals and shrubs. Tall, so plant at back of beds. Would do
fine in large containers, planters. Used for roadside plantings. Native Californians used stems for
arrow shafts and as an antiseptic medicine. Plants also useful as natural dye (gold). Good habitat
plant: attracts fall-flying insects, seed-eating birds (finches).
Sensible substitute for: Non-native sunflowers.
Attracts: Excellent insect and bird habitat. Provides nectar and foliage for insect & butterfly food;
seeds for seed-eating birds.
Requirements:
Element Requirement
Sun Full sun; probably ok with light shade
Soil any
Water Low needs; Zone 1 or 2 after seedlings establish
Fertilizer none
Other No mulch, inorganic mulch best; thin organic mulch ok
Management: Plant seed in fall in prepared beds. Barely cover. Will reseed on bare ground –
can become weedy with summer water. Cut back to ground (or pull up entirely) after blooming.
Propagation: from seed: easy
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1, 2, 10, 16, 31 8/3/15
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