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Heterotheca grandiflora

telegraphweed

Asteraceae

Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico

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

Native to North America

SunFull Sun

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

Overview

Heterotheca grandiflora is a stout annual or biennial herb in the daisy family, native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, growing 2-7 feet (0.6-2.1 m) tall on a single erect, branching stalk. The whole plant is gray-green, densely covered in soft hairs and sticky glands that give off a strong resinous, somewhat camphor-like scent and trap dust and small insects. The lower leaves are oblong, 2-5 inches (5-13 cm) long, and stalked, while the upper leaves are smaller and clasp the stem. From late spring into late fall the upper branches carry many yellow flower heads about 0.75-1 inch (2-2.5 cm) across, each with a ring of short ray florets around a yellow disc, followed by two kinds of bristly seeds. It grows in sandy and disturbed ground, roadsides, washes, and coastal bluffs, tolerating heat, drought, and poor soil. It establishes quickly on bare ground and self-sows heavily, so it often behaves as a pioneer weed of open sites.

Native Range

Native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, centered on California and extending into Arizona, Nevada, and Baja California, and naturalized more widely in the West and beyond. It grows in sandy soils, washes, roadsides, vacant lots, and coastal bluffs at low to middle elevations.

Suggested Uses

Used in native, wildlife, and pollinator plantings, dry meadows, and erosion control on sandy, disturbed sites. Its size, stickiness, and heavy seeding make it less suited to small or tidy garden beds.

How to Identify

Look for a tall, single-stalked herb 2-7 feet (0.6-2.1 m) high that is gray-green and sticky-hairy throughout, with a strong resinous smell. Many yellow daisy heads about 1 inch (2.5 cm) across crowd the upper branches over a long season. The dense glandular hairs, single main stem, and dusty, sticky feel separate it from the lower, bushier Heterotheca subaxillaris and from true goldenasters.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2' - 7'

Width/Spread1' - 2'6"

Colors

Flower Colors

yellow

Foliage Colors

green

gray green

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~20 weeks

Spring Summer Fall

Flowering is long, running from late spring well into fall and sometimes year-round in mild coastal areas. The branched top opens a steady succession of yellow heads over many weeks, drawing native bees and butterflies. Each head produces bristly seeds that disperse on the wind and on passing animals.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

gray-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 Range6.0 - 8.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

sand rocky loam

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun on dry, well-drained sandy or gravelly soils and tolerates heat, drought, wind, and poor, disturbed ground. It is suited to USDA zones 8-11 as a warm-season annual or biennial that dies after flowering and sets abundant seed. Rich, moist, or shaded soils produce soft, weak growth and shorten its life, and standing water is not tolerated. Little to no watering is needed once seedlings establish. It self-sows freely and can spread well beyond where it is planted, so removing seed heads before they ripen limits volunteers. Few pests trouble the sticky, aromatic foliage, which deer and rabbits avoid.

Pruning

Deadheading the spent flower heads before seeds ripen is the main task and curbs heavy self-seeding. Whole plants can be pulled or cut at the base after flowering, since they die at the end of their cycle. No shaping is needed for this short-lived plant.