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Malacothrix saxatilis

cliff aster

Asteraceae California and northwestern Mexico

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 8–10

Overview

Malacothrix saxatilis is a perennial subshrub in the aster family, native to coastal bluffs, rocky slopes, and canyon walls of California and northern Baja California. It grows from a woody base into a loose, upright clump 24-60 inches (60-150 cm) tall, with slender, brittle stems. The lower leaves are narrow and lobed, to 4 inches (10 cm) long, while the upper leaves are reduced to thin, linear segments. Daisy-like flower heads about 1-1.5 inches (2.5-4 cm) wide are carried singly or in open sprays, each made up entirely of strap-shaped ray florets in white to cream, often tinged pink or lavender on the reverse. There are no central disc florets. In the mild coastal climate it can flower over much of the year, peaking from late spring through fall. Small dry seeds carried on a tuft of bristles follow. The plant is drought tolerant once rooted but short-lived, often persisting only a few years, and its brittle stems snap in exposed, windy positions.

Native Range

Native to California and northern Baja California, Mexico, on coastal bluffs, sea cliffs, rocky canyon walls, and disturbed slopes, mainly in the Coast Ranges and southern California.

Suggested Uses

Used in coastal and dry-climate gardens, bluff and slope restoration, and rock gardens on fast-draining soil. The long flowering season supplies nectar and pollen to bees and butterflies. It suits low-water plantings where its short life is offset by ready self-seeding.

How to Identify

Identify Malacothrix saxatilis by its white to cream, strap-petaled flower heads that look like small dandelions and lack any central disc. The lower leaves are narrow and lobed, while the upper leaves taper to thread-like segments on slender, woody-based stems. The undersides of the ray florets are often tinged pink or lavender.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2' - 5'

Width/Spread2' - 4'

Colors

Flower Colors

white

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~24 weeks

Spring Summer Fall

In mild coastal areas flowering can continue through much of the year, with the heaviest bloom from late spring through fall. The white ray-only heads open in succession on branching stems. Each head matures into a cluster of small seeds tipped with white bristles that carry on the wind.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

white to cream, pink-tinged beneath

Foliage Description

gray-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 5-8 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 - 7.8(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

sand rocky loam

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

Grows in full sun on sandy, rocky, or gravelly soils with sharp drainage, including poor and disturbed ground. It is drought tolerant once rooted and needs little or no summer water near the coast. A near-neutral soil pH of 6.0 to 7.8 suits it, and heavy, wet soils shorten its already brief life. Light frosts are tolerated, but hard freezes damage the soft stems. Propagation is by seed, which germinates readily, and plants often self-sow. Cutting back leggy stems after the main flush keeps the clump dense.

Pruning

Shear back the brittle stems by about one third after the main bloom to limit legginess and prompt fresh growth. Dead and broken wood is removed at the base. The short-lived plants are replaced from self-sown seedlings as older clumps fade.

✓ Toxicity

Non-toxic