Achyrachaena spp.

blow-wives

Asteraceae

California and Oregon (western North America)

Attracts Pollinators Container Friendly

Native to North America

SunFull Sun

WaterMedium

Overview

Achyrachaena spp. is a genus in the daisy family (Asteraceae) with a single species, A. mollis, known as blow-wives. It is a slender, soft-hairy annual 10–60 cm (4–24 in) tall, with narrow, untoothed, grey-green leaves 3–12 cm (1.2–5 in) long set opposite on the lower stem. The flower heads are small and inconspicuous, with short yellow to dull-red ray florets that barely open and are easily overlooked. The display comes later: as the seed head dries, each fruit is topped by a ring of broad, silvery-white, papery scales that spread into a translucent sphere 2–4 cm (0.8–1.6 in) across, resembling a small pompon. These wind-borne heads scatter the seed across open ground. Achyrachaena spp. grows in full sun on heavy clay and seasonally moist grassland and vernal-pool margins, completing its life cycle with the wet season and dying as the soil dries. It tolerates poor, compacted clay but needs winter and spring moisture, and the plants disappear entirely by summer.

Native Range

Achyrachaena mollis is native to western North America, in California and Oregon and into northern Baja California. It grows in open grassland, on clay flats, and around the margins of vernal pools, mostly at low elevations.

Suggested Uses

Planted in native grassland, meadow, and vernal-pool restoration and in wildflower seed mixes. Grown for the silvery dried seed heads in informal and dry-cut arrangements. Suited to seasonally wet clay sites rather than tidy irrigated beds.

How to Identify

In flower, recognised by small, soft-hairy annual stems with narrow grey-green leaves and inconspicuous yellow to reddish heads. The clearest stage is the seed head, a sphere of broad, silvery, papery scales that catch the light and the wind. The dry pompon heads on slender stalks separate it from other grassland annuals.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height4" - 2'

Width/Spread4" - 10"

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~6 weeks

Spring

Achyrachaena spp. flowers in spring, generally March to May, after winter rains. The small heads are short-lived and quickly give way to the silvery, papery seed heads that persist for several weeks. The plant dries and dies as the soil bakes in early summer.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

yellow to dull red

Foliage Description

grey-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

clay loam

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grow Achyrachaena spp. in full sun on heavy clay or loam that stays moist through winter and spring. It tolerates compacted, poor, seasonally wet soils but needs cool-season moisture and will not persist under dry summer irrigation. Sow seed in autumn for germination with the first rains. A soil pH of about 6.0 to 7.5 suits it. Plants need no feeding and complete their cycle in a few months. Let the seed heads dry in place to self-sow for the following year.

Pruning

As a small annual, Achyrachaena spp. needs no pruning. Leaving the dried seed heads in place lets the silvery scales show and the plant reseed. Clearing spent plants in summer makes room for other planting once seed has dropped.