1 / 10

Layia glandulosa

whitedaisy tidytips

Asteraceae Western North America

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Drought Tolerant Fragrant (light)Container Friendly

Native to North America

SunFull Sun

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

Overview

Layia glandulosa is a slender, glandular annual wildflower growing 4 to 16 inches (10 to 40 cm) tall, with branched, hairy stems that release a scent when handled. The narrow lower leaves are deeply lobed while the upper leaves are smaller and toothless. From spring into early summer it bears daisy-like heads about 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5 to 4 cm) across, each with white ray florets, sometimes pink-tinged, around a yellow center of disk florets. The ray tips are three-toothed. It grows on sandy and gravelly soils of deserts, dry slopes, and open woodland across western North America. As a desert annual it germinates with autumn or winter rain, flowers in spring, and dies as the soil dries. Flowering is brief in dry years and fuller after wet winters. It needs full sun and sharp drainage and will not persist in heavy, moist garden soil. The plant self-seeds where conditions suit it.

Native Range

Native to western North America, from British Columbia and the Great Basin south through California into northern Mexico. It grows on sandy or gravelly soils in deserts, dry slopes, chaparral, and open coniferous woodland.

Suggested Uses

Used in wildflower mixes, desert and rock gardens, and native restoration on dry, sandy sites. It suits low-water meadows and slopes that receive winter rain. The flowers supply early-season nectar and pollen for native bees.

How to Identify

Identify it by daisy-like heads with white, three-toothed ray florets around a yellow disk, on glandular, scented stems. The lower leaves are deeply lobed and hairy. The white rays separate it from the yellow-flowered tidytips such as L. platyglossa. The sticky, aromatic foliage is a useful field mark.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height4" - 1'4"

Width/Spread4" - 10"

Colors

Flower Colors

white

yellow

Foliage Colors

green

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~8 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowering occurs from spring into early summer, generally March through June depending on elevation and rainfall. Each head carries white, sometimes pink-tinged ray florets around a yellow center. Bloom is brief in dry years and longer after wet winters. The flowers draw native bees and other small insects.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

white with yellow center

Foliage Description

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

As a desert annual, Layia glandulosa grows in full sun in sandy or gravelly, sharply drained soil. Sow seed in autumn or winter so plants flower with spring moisture. It tolerates drought and low fertility and needs little water once growing. A soil pH from 6.0 to 8.0 suits it. The plant fails in heavy, wet, or rich soil and does not persist past the season. It self-seeds where the soil stays open and lean.

Pruning

Pruning is not generally practiced on this annual. Removing spent heads can extend bloom slightly and limit self-sowing. Plants can be cleared once they set seed and dry. Growth restarts from seed the following season.