Brittlebush
Encelia farinosa · Asteraceae
- Form
- Subshrub
- Height
- 2–5 ft
- Sun
- Full Sun
- Water
- Very Low
- Blooms
- Mar, Apr, May, Jun
- Habitat
- Desert · Coastal Sage Scrub
🌿 California native
Quick facts · Habitat: Desert slopes; dry edges of Coastal Sage Scrub · Form / size: Rounded subshrub, 2–5 ft · Sun: Full sun · Water (established): Very low · Blooms: Spring (a sheet of yellow) · Pollinator value: Moderate
Description
A tidy, rounded desert shrub with silvery, felted grey-white leaves that reflect harsh sun and conserve water. In spring it erupts in bright yellow, daisy-like flowers held well above the foliage on long stalks — one of the great desert wildflower shows. Stems exude a fragrant resin once burned as incense (its Spanish name, incienso).
Wildlife & pollinators
Spring flowers feed native bees and butterflies; birds take the seeds.
Habitat & range
Common across the Sonoran and Mojave deserts and onto the dry inland edges of Southern California, often the dominant splash of yellow on rocky desert slopes after a wet winter.
In the garden
A fast, cheerful, extremely drought-tolerant mounding shrub for hot, sunny, well-drained spots. Short-lived but reseeds. Shear off spent flower stalks to tidy it. Full sun, no summer water.
Propagation
Easy from seed sown in spring — it reseeds itself freely once established. Cuttings are possible, but seed is simplest. See Propagation Basics.
Where to see it near you
- iNaturalist — observed in Orange County
- Dry inland slopes; spectacular a short drive east in Anza-Borrego.
Problems
Trouble-free in the conditions it likes. In gardens, the only real risk is overwatering / poor drainage → Root Rot.
