Deinandra fasciculata
clustered tarweed
Attracts PollinatorsAttracts ButterfliesDeer ResistantDrought TolerantFragrant (moderate)
Native to North America
SunFull Sun
Overview
Deinandra fasciculata, clustered tarweed, is an aromatic annual of the daisy family growing 1-4 feet (30-120 cm) tall on slender, branching, glandular stems that release a resinous tar-like scent when brushed. The lower leaves are narrow and pinnately divided into thread-like segments, while the upper leaves are reduced and often clustered, giving the plant its common name. From late spring through autumn the branch tips carry many small flower heads about 0.3-0.5 inch (8-12 mm) across, each with about five yellow ray florets around a yellow disc. The glandular foliage and stems are sticky to the touch. Native to coastal and inland California and Baja California, D. fasciculata grows in grasslands, coastal sage scrub, open fields, and disturbed roadsides on dry soils. It germinates with winter rain, greens up in spring, and continues flowering into the dry season after most spring annuals have finished. As a tarweed it supplies late-season nectar to bees and butterflies when little else blooms. One limitation is the sticky, strongly scented foliage, which clings to clothing and limits its use near paths. It self-sows freely on bare ground.
Native Range
Deinandra fasciculata is native to southern and central California and Baja California, Mexico. It grows on dry grasslands, coastal sage scrub, mesas, and disturbed open ground from the coast to inland valleys, and was formerly classified in the genus Hemizonia spp..Suggested Uses
Deinandra fasciculata is sown in native wildflower meadows, pollinator plantings, and habitat restoration across California, where it extends nectar into the dry season. It suits dry, sunny banks and unirrigated borders. Its late bloom fills the summer gap in native gardens after spring annuals finish.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 4'
Width/Spread8" - 1'6"
Bloom Information
Flowering runs from May through October, extending well into the dry season after winter-rain annuals fade. The small yellow heads open over many weeks and draw late-flying bees and butterflies. Dry one-seeded fruits ripen and shed through summer and autumn.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 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
Water & Climate
Water Needs
Drought Tolerance
Drought tolerant when established
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Deinandra fasciculata grows in full sun on dry, well-drained sandy, loamy, or clay soils across a pH of about 6.0 to 7.5. As a cool-season-germinating annual it sprouts with winter rain and flowers through the following dry months with little or no irrigation. It tolerates heat, drought, and poor soil but declines in shade or wet ground. The seed is surface-sown on open soil in autumn and needs no special treatment. Plants self-sow where the ground stays bare. Crowding by perennial grasses reduces germination.Pruning
As an annual, D. fasciculata is not pruned. Leaving the spent heads lets it reseed, while cutting before seed drop limits self-sowing. The sticky, scented stems coat tools and gloves when cut.✓ Toxicity
Non-toxicPlanting Guide
Planting Methods & Timing
Planting Method
direct sow
Plant Spacing
10 inches