Orcutt's Woodyaster
Xylorhiza orcuttii · Asteraceae
- Form
- Subshrub
- Height
- 1-3 ft
- Sun
- Full Sun
- Water
- Very Low
- Blooms
- Mar, Apr, May
- Habitat
- Desert · Sagebrush Scrub
🌿 California native
Quick facts
- Habitat: Desert scrub and Sagebrush Scrub on dry open ground
- Form / size: Woody-based perennial, usually 1-3 ft
- Sun: Full sun · Water: Very low
- Blooms: Spring · Pollinator value: High
Description
A low woody desert perennial with narrow leaves and handsome lavender daisy flowers around a yellow center. When in bloom it can read almost like a tidy garden aster dropped into raw desert habitat.
Wildlife & pollinators
Excellent spring pollinator plant for native bees and other flower visitors in desert country.
Habitat & range
Open desert scrub, dry flats, and rocky slopes in Southern California and northern Baja California.
In the garden
A strong candidate for desert native gardens where spring color is wanted without much water. It needs open sun and fast drainage.
Propagation
From seed or cuttings of semi-woody growth.
Where to see it near you
- iNaturalist — observed in Southern California
- Open desert scrub, flats, and rocky dry slopes.
Problems
Needs drainage and lean conditions. Too much water can make it floppy or short-lived.
Sources
Commonly confused with
🌿 Mojave-aster Xylorhiza tortifolia similar flower form, but Mojave-aster often has more twisting, gray, desert-scrub foliage.
🌿 Desert daisies Orcutt's woodyaster has a woody base and broader purple ray display than many annual composites.
