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Trixis californica

American threefold

Asteraceae

Southwestern United States and Mexico

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterVery Low · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 8–11

Overview

Trixis californica is a rounded shrub in the daisy family reaching 1.5-5 feet (0.5-1.5 m) tall and about as wide, with many slender, brittle stems rising from the base. Leaves are lance-shaped, 1-3 inches (2.5-8 cm) long, bright to gray-green, slightly sticky, and dropped during extended drought. Yellow flower heads about 0.5-0.75 inch (1.3-2 cm) across cluster at the branch tips; each head holds two-lipped ray and disk florets rather than the flat rays of a typical daisy. Bloom runs from late winter through spring, with scattered flowering after summer rains. Seeds bear a tuft of white bristles and are carried by wind. Growth is moderate, and plants resprout from the base after browsing or frost damage. The shrub is hardy only in mild-winter regions and is killed back by hard freezes. Foliage is sparse during long dry periods.

Native Range

Native to the deserts and arid foothills of the southwestern United States, including southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, and south through much of Mexico. Grows on rocky slopes, canyon walls, washes, and desert flats below 5,000 feet (1,500 m), often in the shelter of larger shrubs and boulders.

Suggested Uses

Used in desert and dry-climate gardens, rock gardens, and revegetation plantings, spaced 3-4 feet (0.9-1.2 m) apart. Supports native bees and butterflies during its spring bloom. Cold sensitivity restricts its use to mild-winter regions.

How to Identify

Recognized by yellow flower heads with two-lipped florets and lance-shaped, slightly sticky leaves on a rounded desert shrub. Seed heads carry tufts of white bristles. The two-lipped florets separate it from most other yellow-flowered desert composites, which have flat ray petals.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1'6" - 5'

Width/Spread2' - 5'

Reaches mature size in approximately 4 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~10 weeks

Spring

Flowers open mainly from February to May, beginning as winter rains warm. Scattered flowering can follow summer monsoon rains in July and August. Individual heads last about a week, and the main bloom period spans 6-10 weeks in spring.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

Bright to gray-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 6-10 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 Range6.5 - 8.5(Alkaline)

357912

Soil Types

sand rocky loam

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Very Low

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

2-4 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grow in full sun to light shade in rocky, sandy, or gravelly well-drained soil. Water occasionally to establish; once rooted, the shrub needs little to no irrigation and drops leaves during prolonged drought. Hard frost below the mid-20s Fahrenheit (about -4 C) kills stems to the ground, though plants resprout from the base in mild regions. Overwatering or heavy, wet soil leads to root rot. No fertilizer is needed. Plants are short-lived, often persisting 5-10 years, and replace themselves from seed.

Pruning

Cut frost-damaged or dead stems back to live wood in spring once new growth appears. Shear lightly after the main bloom to hold a compact form. The shrub resprouts readily from older wood and from the base.

Pruning Schedule

early spring