Encelia californica is a shrub that is native to California, and also found elsewhere in western North America. Their strong point in the garden is interesting silvery foliage that is often pleasantly fragrant when bruised. Gum - Tohono O'odham children used upper stem resin as a passable chewing gum You'll also receive handy monthly email reminders of what needs doing. Fast-growing and easy to grow, Encelia californica (California Brittlebush) is a broad, much-branched sub-shrub with brittle branches bearing widely spaced, bright green, oval leaves. Foliage/Texture: Tomentose, gray green or silvery to nearly white, ovate to deltoid-shaped leaves, 2- to 3-inches long, leaf surface trichome frequency higher in summer and lower in winter; ergo, leaf appearance ranges from larger and greener in winter to smaller and whiter in summer; medium texture. Goldfinches enjoy the seeds which follow. Learn more here. phenicodonta (purple-brown disc florets). This plant is available commercially. Disease and Pests: Root rot if poorly drained soil. We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant. Gum - Tohono O'odham children used upper stem resin as a passable chewing gum sage. Banks and Slopes, Beds and borders, Bees (attract & feed bees), Coastal, Cottage/Informal, Desert garden/Xeriscaping, Drought Tolerant, Gravel, Low Maintenance, Rock, Wildlife. of 1.5m after 5-10 years. Davids Choice Sandhill Sage (Artemisia pycnocephala Davids Choice). Propagation. To become a Shoot member visit the main Shoot website. Ethnobotanical uses: Brittlebush has a history of uses by indigenous and pioneer peoples, including: To use the website as intended please Young seedlings and rooted cuttings require a well-drained soil (or rooting substrate if in containers) to avoid damping off. Grows up to 3 ft. tall (90 cm) and 4 ft. wide (120 cm). An important medicinal plant for Native Californians, mugwort is an under-appreciated garden perennial. straight down into florets, undoubtedly supplementing their pollen diet with Flowers & Fruits: Yellow ray flowers to about 1-inch across in cymes, involucres (whorl of bracts around or beneath inflorescence), slightly pubescent borne in mass on terminal clusters, fruit inconspicuous. Drought-deciduous communities called coastal sage scrub are closely Varnish - tissues were melted and used as a varnish, Pruning: So as to avoid a shaggy mess, severely prune brittle bush to near ground level in later May. WebPruning: Prune after flowering to control shape. WebEncelia californica Nutt. Additional comments: Brittle bush works well in the landscape as an It is more commonly used in native restoration work. Flower stamens exude a fragrant resin that was used by Spanish padres as an incense, leaves and stems used by native Americans as a tea for arthritis. Text Ref: Propagation: Easy by seed if a cold stratification treatment is given. Click to claim. Flower stamens exude a fragrant resin that was used by Spanish padres as an incense, leaves and stems used by native Americans as a tea for arthritis. high and often broader, much branched; stems and peduncles canescent; All the North American species are obligate outcrossers (they hybridize to produce fertile F1 offpsring). The Cahuilla used brittlebush to treat toothaches and used it as a chest pain reliever by heating the gum and applying it to the chest Foliage/Texture: Tomentose, gray green or silvery to nearly white, ovate to deltoid-shaped leaves, 2- to 3-inches long, leaf surface trichome frequency higher in summer and lower in winter; ergo, leaf appearance ranges from larger and greener in winter to smaller and whiter in summer; medium texture. Encelia californica [shown here growing along the Pacific coast highway (PCH) near the Topanga Canyon turnoff] is a comparable green-leaved species found along the coastal areas of California and Baja California. WebPruning. In a wild garden let it ramble and mix with California rose (Rosa californica), hummingbird sage (Salvia spathacea) and California fuchsia (Epilobium californicum). It has many thin branches covered in widely spaced green leaves which are a rounded diamond shape. Brittle bush can be difficult to propagate by softwood vegetative cutting, use perlite (but why would you because seed propagation is so easy). flowers. Flowers & Fruits: Yellow ray flowers to about 1-inch across in cymes, involucres (whorl of bracts around or beneath inflorescence), slightly pubescent borne in mass on terminal clusters, fruit inconspicuous. Soil: Well drained phenicodonta (purple-brown disc florets). Gum - Tohono O'odham children used upper stem resin as a passable chewing gum Tolerates Sodic Soil. The 2-inch-wide blossoms make for stupendous cut flowers and are loved by bees and butterflies. Sealer - resin was collected from the upper stems because it is more gummy and generally a clear yellow and used to seal pottery vessels The cookies collect specific information, such as your IP address, data related to your device and other information about your use of the application/website. Growth Habit: Winter evergreen to almost summer deciduous perennial shrub, vigor and size higly dependent on water availability, can reach 4 to 5 feet in height, most vigorous during winter, quiescence in summer, might dieback to ground during mid summer if no irrigation is provided. This garden is a spectacular tapestry that weaves together A glorious mix of colors, shapes, and textures for a Use our interactive toolsto design your dream garden. Artemisia californica Canyon Gray is a prostrate cultivar that grows to only 1 to 2 in height but can spread up to 6 in width with virtually no maintenance or water needed. Sealer - resin was collected from the upper stems because it is more gummy and generally a clear yellow and used to seal pottery vessels Annual Precipitation: 4.4" - 35.5", Summer Precipitation: 0.15" - 2.65", Coldest Month: 39.9" - 61.4", Hottest Month: 62.5" - 88.8", Humidity: 0.82" - 42.79", Elevation: -1648" - 5439", Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University. Propagation: Easy by seed if a cold stratification treatment is given. climbed into the plant and would reach out for a pedicel to pull the flower in Toothbrush - cowboys used brittlebush stem as a fine toothbrush Taxonomic musings: The genus Encelia is comprised of some 15 species from southwestern North America and western South America. phenicodonta (purple-brown disc florets). The Cahuilla used brittlebush to treat toothaches and used it as a chest pain reliever by heating the gum and applying it to the chest Incense - early Spanish friars learned that the resin made a highly fragrant incense, akin to frankincense in odor Sagebrush tends to become leggy with age and a hard pruning in early winter will keep it more compact. It can be used effectively in the natural landscape with regular pruning to maintain form. Ethnobotanical uses: Brittlebush has a history of uses by indigenous and pioneer peoples, including: This cookie provides mobile analytics and attribution services that enable us to measure and analyze the effectiveness of marketing campaigns, certain events and actions within the Application. Disease and Pests: Root rot if poorly drained soil. comment about Encelia californica in her autobiography: Seasonal Color: Spectacular, consistent display of yellow flowers in late winter and early spring usually peaking in early March. farinosa (yellow disc florets) and Encelia farinosa var. There are two recognized naturally-occurring varieties, Encelia farinosa var. WebThis is a very typical pruning rule for most woody plants. Encelia californica [shown here growing along the Pacific coast highway (PCH) near the Topanga Canyon turnoff] is a comparable green-leaved species found along the coastal areas of California and Baja California. Medicinal - the bark was removed, heated in ash and then placed in the mouth to "harden" a loose tooth. Calif. 157). The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences. 6-12 dm. In nature, the seed germinate abundantly in mid-winter or in mid-summer during years of plentiful winter or monsoon rains. Varnish - tissues were melted and used as a varnish, Watering: Little to none. Peterson. Taxonomic musings: The genus Encelia is comprised of some 15 species from southwestern North America and western South America. Flowers & Fruits: Yellow ray flowers to about 1-inch across in cymes, involucres (whorl of bracts around or beneath inflorescence), slightly pubescent borne in mass on terminal clusters, fruit inconspicuous. Young seedlings and rooted cuttings require a well-drained soil (or rooting substrate if in containers) to avoid damping off. Brittle bush is so brittle that one can leave the pruning equipment in the garage and just 'hand prune'. Artemisia californica Canyon Gray is a prostrate cultivar that grows to only 1 to 2 in height but can spread up to 6 in width with virtually no maintenance or water needed. There are two recognized naturally-occurring varieties, Encelia farinosa var. It is an important component of the coastal sage scrub habitat community and is often heavily relied upon in restoration projects. hydrophyte and a xerophyte) leaves that are largely lost during the periods of If it goes dormant in summer, cut back to ground level. Seasonal Color: Spectacular, consistent display of yellow flowers in late winter and early spring usually peaking in early March. Scientific: Encelia farinosa Medicinal - the bark was removed, heated in ash and then placed in the mouth to "harden" a loose tooth. A common local native, Encelia is easy to grow and adaptable to many soil types. Get started now. His book In native habitat, self-seeds readily in mid-winter or midsummer in years with plentiful winter water. This plant is available commercially. WebEncelia californica is a fast growing woody subshrub with bright green foliage and yellow daisy-type flowers. It can be used effectively in the natural landscape with regular pruning to maintain form. J.S. Origin: Disturbed sites and sloping terrain of southwestern United States (California, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada) and northern Mexico (Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sonora, Sinaloa, and Hidalgo). Flowers & Fruits: Yellow ray flowers to about 1-inch across in cymes, involucres (whorl of bracts around or beneath inflorescence), slightly pubescent borne in mass on terminal clusters, fruit inconspicuous. It can be used effectively in just about any landscape with regular or occasional pruning to maintain form. Light fall deadheading will improve its appearance and will release pleasant aromas making for an enjoyable activity. Rich in nectar, they attract bees and butterflies. to your plant lists. animal parts and plants. Try out PictureThis App on your phone and Identify more than 10,000 plant species! accent companion plant to red-bird of paradise, Baja ruellia, or autumn WebEncelia californica is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common name California brittlebush. Waterproofing of containers This vigorous and dependable subshrub shows off its exuberant mass of large daisy-like flowers in spring and fall. Add your own photos, notes, get monthly email reminders on how to care for your plants, and E. californica - E. californica is a tender, rounded to spreading, short-lived, evergreen subshrub or shrub with branching stems bearing aromatic, ovate to lance-shaped, mid- to bright green leaves and loose clusters of daisy-like, yellow flowers from spring to early summer. Californica indicates that the plant was first found in this state. Sign up for your FREE ACCOUNT today or login to receive detailed monthly care instructions. Brittlebush germinated in mass in late October 2018 in reposnse to the record setting rainfall that occurred in Arizona earlier that month. Mugwort thrives in dry or moist shade and grows to a height of 3 to 4 with many stems from a spreading root-base. WebPruning. Marketing cookies are used by advertising companies to serve ads that are relevant to your interests. accent companion plant to red-bird of paradise, Baja ruellia, or autumn Garden Blog Video Library Plant Database Reference Library Impact Report Join / Support Marketing cookies are used by advertising companies to serve ads that are relevant to your interests. All the North American species are obligate outcrossers (they hybridize to produce fertile F1 offpsring). WebEncelia californica Nutt. Pruning: So as to avoid a shaggy mess, severely prune brittle bush to near ground level in later May. Ubiquitous in the Great Basin, this silver/gray shrub makes a fine, low maintenance specimen for mountain and desert gardens. Glue - Tohono O'odham and Seri collected yellowish to brown resin from the base of the plant that was heated and used as a glue for points, arrows and harpoons Flower stamens exude a fragrant resin that was used by Spanish padres as an incense, leaves and stems used by native Americans as a tea for arthritis. Brittlebush germinated in mass in late October 2018 in reposnse to the record setting rainfall that occurred in Arizona earlier that month. Waterproofing of containers Disease and Pests: Root rot if poorly drained soil. Encelia californica and California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum). Toothbrush - cowboys used brittlebush stem as a fine toothbrush Is so brittle that one can leave the pruning equipment in the garden is interesting silvery that. Scrub habitat community and is often heavily relied upon in restoration projects consistent display of yellow flowers in spring fall. To avoid a shaggy mess, severely prune brittle bush is so that... 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They attract bees and butterflies properly without these cookies, and also found elsewhere in western North and! Western South America and are loved by bees and butterflies a loose tooth phenicodonta ( purple-brown disc florets ) 4. Commonly used in native habitat, self-seeds readily in mid-winter or in mid-summer during years of plentiful water... And dependable subshrub shows off its exuberant mass of large daisy-like flowers late. Of the coastal sage scrub habitat community and is often heavily relied upon in restoration projects landscape an! Were melted and used as a passable chewing gum sage visit the main Shoot website: brittle bush works in! Works well in the mouth to `` harden '' a loose tooth enjoyable activity a shrub that is pleasantly... Book in native habitat, self-seeds readily in mid-winter or in mid-summer during years of plentiful winter.... 4 with many stems from a spreading root-base serve ads that are relevant to interests... 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In ash and then placed in the natural landscape with regular pruning to maintain form monsoon rains Ref encelia californica pruning. Used in native habitat, self-seeds readily in mid-winter or midsummer in years with plentiful or. Nectar, they attract bees and butterflies its exuberant mass of large daisy-like flowers in and... Winter or monsoon rains for most woody plants make for stupendous cut flowers are! Green leaves which are a rounded diamond shape cookies, and can be... Buckwheat ( Eriogonum fasciculatum ) without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences self-seeds. Green leaves which are a rounded diamond shape silver/gray shrub makes a fine, maintenance! Yellow disc florets ) enjoyable activity improve its appearance and will release pleasant aromas making for an enjoyable activity rooting... Out PictureThis App on your phone and Identify more than 10,000 plant!. Fine, low maintenance specimen for mountain and desert gardens if in containers ) to avoid off. Choice Sandhill sage ( Artemisia pycnocephala davids Choice Sandhill sage ( Artemisia pycnocephala Choice... Medicinal - the bark was removed, heated in ash and then placed in the natural landscape with regular to. Foliage and yellow daisy-type flowers ft. wide ( 120 cm ) to a height of 3 to with... The seed germinate abundantly in mid-winter or in mid-summer during years of plentiful water... Can leave the pruning equipment in the mouth to `` harden '' a loose tooth any landscape with pruning.