Geraea canescens
desert sunflower
Mojave, Sonoran, and Colorado deserts
Attracts PollinatorsAttracts ButterfliesDrought TolerantFragrant (light)Container Friendly
Native to North America
Overview
Geraea canescens is an annual wildflower of the North American deserts, growing 10-30 inches (25-75 cm) tall from a single slender stem that branches toward the top. The whole plant is grayish and rough with short stiff hairs, which give it the name canescens, meaning hoary. Narrow to oval leaves 1-3 inches (2.5-7.6 cm) long crowd the lower stem and become smaller upward. Yellow daisy-like flower heads 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) across top the branches, each with 10 to 21 yellow rays around a yellow disk, and carry a faint fragrance. After wet winters, large numbers germinate together and color desert flats and dunes through spring. Seeds ripen quickly and the plant dies as the soil dries. It grows in USDA zones 9-11 as a winter annual and completes its life cycle in a single season. Bloom depends heavily on rainfall, and in dry years few plants appear or set seed.
Native Range
Geraea canescens is native to the deserts of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, including the Mojave, Sonoran, and Colorado deserts of California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and Baja California. It grows on sandy flats, dunes, washes, and roadsides below 4,000 feet (1,200 m).Suggested Uses
Used in desert wildflower seed mixes, native annual plantings, and revegetation of sandy disturbed ground. It adds early-season color to dry gardens and draws pollinators in arid regions.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height10" - 2'6"
Width/Spread8" - 1'6"
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
grayish-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 8-12 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
Water & Climate
Water Needs
Drought Tolerance
Drought tolerant when established
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in full sun on loose, sandy, sharply drained desert soil and tolerates heat and drought as a short-lived annual. Seed sown in fall germinates with winter rains and needs no extra water in a normal wet season. A soil pH of 7.0-8.5 suits the species. In cultivation, occasional water during dry winters lengthens bloom. The plant needs open ground and does not compete well with dense vegetation. It reseeds where soil stays bare and sandy.Pruning
No pruning is needed for this annual. Spent plants can be left to drop seed for the next season or pulled once they dry. Removing faded heads has little effect on a plant that lives a single season.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons
✓ Toxicity
Non-toxicPlanting Guide
Planting Methods & Timing
Planting Method
direct sow
Direct Sow Timing
Fall, before winter rains
Plant Spacing
8 inches