Engelmannia peristenia (Engelmann daisy)

Engelmannia spp.

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Drought Tolerant

Native to North America

HardinessZones 5–9

Overview

Engelmannia spp. is a genus of the daisy family, Asteraceae, containing the single species E. peristenia, Engelmann's daisy, a taprooted perennial wildflower of the central grasslands of North America. Plants form upright, hairy clumps 1 to 3 ft (30 to 90 cm) tall from a stout, deep taproot that lets them withstand drought. The deeply pinnately lobed, rough-hairy leaves cluster mainly toward the base. From spring into summer, branched stems carry many yellow daisy flower heads about 1 to 1.5 in (2.5 to 4 cm) across, each with eight to ten notched ray florets around a yellow centre. The rays roll under in the heat of the afternoon and open again the next morning. The species grows on prairies, roadsides, and limestone soils from Texas and Oklahoma north to Kansas and Colorado and into northern Mexico. It is grown in dry-climate planting for its long bloom and deep drought tolerance, though the coarse, hairy foliage and tall, open habit can look weedy in formal beds.

Native Range

Native to the central and southern Great Plains and adjacent regions of North America, from Texas and Oklahoma north to Kansas and Colorado and south into northern Mexico, on prairies and limestone soils.

Suggested Uses

Planted in prairie and meadow restorations, wildflower gardens, and dry, sunny borders, and used along roadsides and on slopes for erosion control. The long bloom supplies nectar to bees and butterflies. It mixes well with native grasses and other prairie perennials.

How to Identify

An upright, rough-hairy perennial with deeply pinnately lobed basal leaves and branched flowering stems. The yellow flower heads have eight to ten ray florets, each notched at the tip, around a yellow disc. A reliable clue is that the rays curl under during hot afternoons and reopen the following morning.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 3'

Width/Spread1' - 2'

Colors

Flower Colors

yellow

Foliage Colors

green

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~12 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowering begins in mid spring and continues into summer, from about April to July, and can resume after late-season rain. The flower heads open in the morning and close in afternoon heat. Bloom is longest where some soil moisture remains.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

Green, hairy

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 Range6.5 - 8.0(Alkaline)

357912

Soil Types

sand loam rocky chalk

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

1-2 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Engelmann's daisy grows in full sun on well-drained sandy, loamy, or rocky soils, including the alkaline limestone soils of its native range, at a pH from about 6.5 to 8.0. Its deep taproot gives strong drought tolerance once established but also makes transplanting difficult, so plants are usually raised from seed sown where they are to grow. Little or no supplemental water is needed after the first season. The species tolerates heat and poor soil but declines in shade or wet ground. It is hardy to about USDA zone 5 and self-seeds where conditions suit.

Pruning

Spent flowering stems can be cut back in summer to tidy the plant and encourage a second flush after rain. Cutting the clump to the base in late autumn or winter clears old growth before spring. Removing seed heads before they ripen limits self-sowing.