This Plant of the Month article is submitted by guest author Dan Songster.

Encelia californica–Bush Sunflower

• Type: Evergreen sub-shrub
• Light: Sun (but can take a touch of shade in hot inland areas)
• Soil: Likes good drainage but adapts well to other soils
• Water: Infrequent to drought tolerant

This Southern California native is a common plant of our coastal sage scrub habitat and can be easily found in our local hills blooming through spring and into summer. Bush sunflower can have a consistent fall bloom as well.

A fairly large plant, about 4 feet tall and 5 feet wide, bush sunflower is a cheerful addition to many gardens that use natives, with its bright yellow daisy flower (like a miniature sunflower), with chocolate brown centers carried singly above the leaves, brightening the landscape. Like other sunflowers, bees, butterflies and insects are attracted to the plant’s blossoms which is certainly a plus for nature lovers. After blooming, the seeds provide food for small seed-eating birds. 

Culture

Take a clue from nature and use this plant on hillsides and slopes, where it will be a very effective as both a colorful display and holding the slope. It is fast growing with tenacious roots and its dense cloak of evergreen leaves deflects the impact of hard winter rains helping prevent erosion. I love it on slopes!

While great on hillsides, bush sunflower can also be used in conventional gardens as a background plant if given room. Limited to frost free areas, it does grow in all types of soil, will take heat and drought, and provides a long-lasting bloom. Some folks use bush sunflower as a pioneer plant in their native gardens because it grows quickly and fills space while other slower-growing natives are just starting to become established. Care should be taken not to allow it to take over the garden–it can crowd out other plants spreading aggressively by seed!

Bush sunflower is also a good foil to many of the grey and silver-foliaged plants such as California sagebrush (Artemisia californica), Saint Catherine’s Lace (Eriogonum giganteum), and the many sage species like Salvia leucophylla ‘Point Sal,’ a spreading form or purple sage.

Of course, mixed with blue flowering California lilacs (Ceanothus sp.) or the purplish Cleveland sage (Salvia clevelandii), it makes a stunning color combination. I have been told that that bush sunflower is also good for cut flowers in the house.

Plant Care

As far as maintenance, no disease or pest issues are known to me. A bit of water in the late spring and into early summer will often extend the blooming period if that is desired.

Pruning? Deadheading the spent flowers a few times after blooming spurts in spring and fall helps the blooms keep coming but is not necessary. That said, light shearing in early winter (especially in the first few years) encourages a denser plant with more flowers in the spring. If (and when) it becomes woody after several years you may want to cut it most of the way to the ground in the early winter to promote all new growth in early spring. In clay soils, after a decade or more of enjoyment, your plant may die. In that case simply allow one of its nearby seedlings to grow and fill in the space.

Further Notes

The genus name Encelia comes from Christoph Entzelt, a German clergyman and naturalist who lived in the 1500’s and wrote about the medicinal uses of plants and animals.

Note:  A cultivar form named ‘El Dorado’ was released from Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden (now California Botanic Garden) which is said to have larger, more golden yellow flowers and may bloom a little earlier in the season. I am not certain whether it is currently in the trade. A more recent introduction is Encelia ‘Paleo Yellow’ which is a pale yellow selection made by Carol Bornstein from a planting in the Nature Garden at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. The name is meant to be descriptive of both the pale yellow flower as well as be a reference to the museum, which houses an incredible paleontological collection. 

Bush sunflower is a cheery, pollinator magnet. Try growing one in your garden this winter!