Brickellia californica (California Brickellbush)

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Brickellia spp.

brickellbushes

Asteraceae

The Americas, chiefly southwestern North America and Mexico

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant Fragrant (light)

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 5–10

Overview

Brickellia is a genus of about 100 perennials, subshrubs, and shrubs in the daisy family (Asteraceae), native to the Americas and centred on the dry, rocky country of the southwestern United States and Mexico. Plants range from knee-high perennials to shrubs 6 feet (1.8 m) tall, with branched, often woody stems and small green to grey-green leaves that may be triangular, toothed, or narrow. The flower heads lack the ray florets of typical daisies; instead each head is a narrow cluster of tubular disc florets in cream, greenish, or dull purple, giving a tassel-like look that lends some species the name tasselflower. Bloom comes mainly in late summer and autumn. Several species, such as B. californica, release a sweet fragrance in the evening that draws night-flying moths. Brickellia tolerates heat, drought, and lean soils once established, but the muted flower colour gives it little impact from a distance. The dry seed heads carry feathery bristles that catch the wind and scatter the seed widely.

Native Range

Brickellia is native to the Americas, with the greatest diversity in the southwestern United States and Mexico, and additional species reaching South America. Many grow on dry slopes, canyon walls, washes, and desert grassland.

Suggested Uses

Used in native, xeric, and wildlife gardens and on dry banks and rock gardens, spaced 2-4 feet (0.6-1.2 m) apart. The late-season flowers draw butterflies, native bees, and moths when little else blooms. Evening-fragrant species are planted near paths and seating where the scent carries.

How to Identify

Recognized by branched, often shrubby stems bearing small toothed or triangular green to grey-green leaves and narrow, rayless flower heads of tubular cream to purplish florets that look like little tassels or brushes. The seed heads carry feathery, wind-borne bristles. The absence of petal-like ray florets separates Brickellia from most other daisy-family plants.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 6'

Width/Spread1' - 5'

Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~6 weeks

Summer Fall

Most Brickellia bloom in late summer and autumn, roughly July to October, often after summer rains. The small tassel-like heads open over several weeks. Evening-fragrant species such as B. californica scent the air after dusk.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

cream, greenish, or purplish

Foliage Description

green to grey-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

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 - 8.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

sand rocky loam

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years to flowering size

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grow Brickellia in full sun and sharply drained sandy, rocky, or gravelly soil with a pH around 6.0-8.0. Once established the plants are deeply drought-tolerant and need little or no summer water in their native range. Excess water and rich soil shorten their life and cause floppy growth. Cut plants back in late winter to remove old stems and keep them compact. They tolerate heat and reflected sun and suit low-water and native plantings. Frost-hardy species die back to the base in cold winters and resprout in spring.

Pruning

Cut the stems back hard in late winter or early spring to remove the previous seasons growth and maintain a dense shape. Shearing after bloom tidies the seed heads where wind-sown seedlings are unwanted. The plants resprout readily from the base.