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Engelmannia peristenia

Engelmann daisy

Asteraceae

South-central and southwestern United States and northern Mexico

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Drought Tolerant

Native to North America

SunFull Sun

WaterVery Low · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 5–9

Overview

Engelmannia peristenia is an upright herbaceous perennial reaching 1-3 feet (30-90 cm) tall, growing from a deep, woody taproot and a basal rosette. The leaves are deeply pinnately lobed, 3-6 inches (8-15 cm) long, rough and hairy, dark green, and clustered toward the base. From spring through summer, branched stems carry many yellow daisy-like flower heads about 1-1.5 inches (2.5-4 cm) across, each with 8-10 broad ray florets surrounding a yellow center. The ray petals curl under and close during the heat of the day, reopening in the cool of morning and evening. Flowering runs from March through July, longer where moisture is steady. Dry seeds follow. The deep taproot lets the plant survive drought and makes established plants hard to move. Foliage stays low and green through mild winters in the south. It self-seeds on open ground and grows in poor, rocky, and clay soils.

Native Range

Native to the south-central and southwestern United States and northern Mexico, from Kansas and Colorado south through Texas to Arizona and into Mexico. Grows in prairies, plains, rocky slopes, roadsides, and open disturbed ground on limestone and clay soils.

Suggested Uses

Planted in native, prairie, and wildflower gardens and in dry meadow and roadside plantings at 12-18 inch (30-45 cm) spacing. The long bloom draws bees and other pollinators, and the plant is grazed by deer and livestock. Its taproot and self-seeding suit it to naturalized, low-water plantings rather than formal beds.

How to Identify

Recognized by deeply pinnately lobed, rough-hairy basal leaves and yellow daisy heads 1-1.5 inches (2.5-4 cm) across with 8-10 broad ray florets that curl under in midday heat. The flower heads sit on branched stems above a low rosette. The deep taproot and limestone-prairie habit help separate it from similar yellow composites.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 3'

Width/Spread1' - 1'6"

Colors

Flower Colors

yellow

Foliage Colors

green

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~16 weeks

Spring Summer

Blooms from March through July, peaking in spring, and may flower again after summer rains. The ray petals open in the cool morning and evening and roll under during midday heat. Each plant flowers over many weeks. Bloom is heaviest in years with spring moisture.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

dark 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 Range6.5 - 8.0(Alkaline)

357912

Soil Types

clay rocky loam

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Very Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

1-2 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun in dry, well-drained soils, including limestone, caliche, clay, and rocky ground, and tolerates heat and drought. Water needs are very low once established; the deep taproot carries the plant through dry spells. No fertilizer is needed, and rich, moist soil shortens its life. It is short-lived but self-seeds freely, renewing stands from seedlings. Few pests or diseases affect it. The taproot makes transplanting difficult, so plants are usually started from seed.

Pruning

Shear or cut plants back after the main spring bloom to tidy the foliage and encourage a second flush of flowers. Cut stems to the ground in late fall or leave seed heads for self-seeding. Removing spent heads before seed sets limits volunteers.