Encelia farinosa

We do not take online orders for plants. Please come in to the nursery, call or email: (510) 234-2222 or sales@thewatershednursery.com

Share this page

Brittlebush

Brittlebush is a small, rounded, mounding shrub that grows 1-5 ft. tall x 4 ft. wide. Its slightly green-white to grayish foliage is lightly fragrant, and nicely complements the bright yellow daisy-like flowers that cover the plant from winter to late spring.

Native to the Mohave and Colorado deserts, this species is accustomed to sandy or decomposed granite soil with extremely low water, and is summer semi-deciduous.

In the garden, this drought tolerant beauty provides a bounty of pollen, nectar, and seeds for a variety of insects and birds. Take care to only irrigate a maximum of 1x per month once established. May be deadheaded to increase flowers or pruned as desired in summer/fall.

Lifeform: Shrub

Sun: Full Sun

Water: Dry, Light

Soil: Gravel, Loam, Rocky, Sand

Other: Attracts Bees, Attracts Birds, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Moths, Drought Tolerant, Erosion Control

Ecological Value

Provides pollen and nectar for a variety of bees, butterflies, and moths, as well as seeds that are eaten by many desert birds and small mammals.
Historical Uses

Cahuilla peoples use it as a toothache remedy., Papago peoples chew the resinous sap as candy and use it to fasten arrow points, and as a waterproofing agent., Pima peoples also chew the resin as gum/candy, and as a varnish as well as a fuel for building quick fires. Additionally the Pima peoples use a poultice of the plant for pain.
Distribution

Colorado and Mohave deserts. Its range is expanding dramatically because Caltrans has begun to use it in hydroseeding.
Elevation

-224" – 6450"
Communities
Habitat

dry gravelly slopes to open sandy washes

Related products