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Stanleya pinnata

desert Prince's plume

Brassicaceae Western North America

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

Native to North America

SunFull Sun

WaterVery Low · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 4–9

Overview

Stanleya pinnata is a perennial, somewhat woody-based wildflower growing 2-5 feet (0.6-1.5 m) tall, with a cluster of erect, blue-green stems rising from a thick rootstock. The lower leaves are 2-6 inches (5-15 cm) long and pinnately divided into narrow lobes, while the upper leaves are smaller and often undivided. Each stem ends in a long, dense raceme of yellow flowers, 6-16 inches (15-40 cm) tall, with four narrow petals and long, protruding stamens that give the spike a feathery look. Flowering runs from April to July, followed by slender, curved seed pods that hang on stalks along the stem. The plant grows on dry plains, desert scrub, and rocky slopes, often on alkaline or selenium-rich soils. It is a selenium accumulator, drawing the element from the soil into its tissues, where high levels can be poisonous to livestock that graze it. The species is deep-rooted and drought tolerant once established. A limitation is its need for lean, fast-draining ground, since rich or wet garden soil shortens its life.

Native Range

Stanleya pinnata is native to the dry interior of western North America, from the Great Plains and Great Basin through the Southwest into northern Mexico. It is widespread on arid, often alkaline or seleniferous soils below about 8,000 feet (2,400 m).

Suggested Uses

Grown in desert and dry gardens, native plant gardens, and gravel plantings for its tall yellow flower spikes, spaced 18-36 inches (45-90 cm) apart. Suited to hot, sunny banks and rock gardens with sharp drainage. The flowers draw native bees, butterflies, and other desert pollinators.

How to Identify

Recognised by its tall spikes of yellow four-petalled flowers with long protruding stamens, set above blue-green, pinnately divided lower leaves. The narrow, curved seed pods hang outward on slender stalks along the upper stem. Its height and plume-like flower spikes separate it from smaller desert mustards.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2' - 5'

Width/Spread1' - 3'

Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~12 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowers open from April to July, beginning at the base of each spike and continuing upward over several weeks. Bloom is earliest in warm low-desert sites and later at higher elevations. Curved seed pods follow and ripen through summer.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

blue-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 Range7.0 - 8.5(Alkaline)

357912

Soil Types

sand rocky loam

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Very Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Stanleya pinnata grows in full sun and dry, alkaline, fast-draining soils, including sandy, gravelly, and rocky ground. It is grown from seed, which germinates after cool, moist winter conditions, and resents transplanting once its deep root forms. Established plants need little or no summer water and tolerate heat, wind, and poor soil. Rich, moist, or poorly drained soil causes weak growth and rot. Because the plant takes up selenium from soils that contain it, tissue levels can become high enough to harm grazing animals.

Pruning

Spent flower spikes are cut back after seed set to tidy the plant, or left in place for self-sowing and seed collection. No other pruning is needed. The blue-green basal foliage persists into the cool season in mild climates.