Brittlebush
Encelia farinosa
Wildflower photo taken at Joshua Tree National Park
Found in dry stony/gravelly slopes, creosote bush scrub.
Up to 3000'
Blooms March-May
Desert Habitat:
A common desert shrub of northwestern Mexico and the southwestern United States. Its common name comes from the brittleness of its woody stems.
It is also called incienso because its dried stems were burned by early Spanish settlers as incense.
Description
Encelia farinosa grows to 1 m tall, with fragrant leaves 3-8 cm long, ovate to deltoid, and silvery tomentose. The capitula are 3-3.5 cm diameter, with orange-yellow ray florets and yellow or purple-brown disc florets. They are arranged in loose panicles above the leafy stems fruit 3-6 mm and there is no pappus.
Plant & Wildflower Glossary
Symbol: ENFA
Group: Dicot
Family: Asteraceae
Duration: Perennial
Growth Habit: Subshrub, Shrub
Native Status:
L48 N HI I
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Encelia
Species: E. farinosa
Morphology/Physiology
Active Growth Period Fall, Winter and Spring
After Harvest Regrowth Rate
Bloat None
C:N Ratio High
Coppice Potential Yes
Fall Conspicuous No
Fire Resistant No
Flower Color Yellow
Flower Conspicuous Yes
Foliage Color Green
Foliage Porosity Summer Moderate
Foliage Porosity Winter Moderate
Foliage Texture Coarse
Fruit/Seed Color Black
Fruit/Seed Conspicuous No
Growth Form Single Stem
Growth Rate Rapid
Height at 20 Years, Maximum (feet) 1
Height, Mature (feet) 5.0
Known Allelopath Yes
Leaf Retention No
Lifespan Short
Low Growing Grass No
Nitrogen Fixation None
Resprout Ability Yes
Shape and Orientation Rounded
Toxicity None
Growth Requirements
Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils Yes
Adapted to Fine Textured Soils Yes
Adapted to Medium Textured Soils Yes
Anaerobic Tolerance None
CaCO3 Tolerance High
Cold Stratification Required No
Drought Tolerance High
Fertility Requirement Low
Fire Tolerance None
Frost Free Days, Minimum 365
Hedge Tolerance High
Moisture Use Low
pH, Minimum 7.0
pH, Maximum 8.5
Planting Density per Acre, Minimum 7000
Planting Density per Acre, Maximum 12000
Precipitation, Minimum 5
Precipitation, Maximum 10
Root Depth, Minimum (inches) 12
Shade Tolerance Intolerant
Temperature, Minimum (°F) 27
Reproduction
Bloom Period Winter
Commercial Availability Contracting Only
Fruit/Seed Abundance High
Fruit/Seed Period Begin Summer
Fruit/Seed Period End Summer
Fruit/Seed Persistence No
Propagated by Bare Root Yes
Propagated by Bulb No
Propagated by Container Yes
Propagated by Corm No
Propagated by Cuttings No
Propagated by Seed Yes
Propagated by Sod No
Propagated by Sprigs No
Propagated by Tubers No
Seed per Pound 35000
Seed Spread Rate Slow
Seedling Vigor Medium
Small Grain No
Vegetative Spread Rate None
