Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Common wooly sunflower (Eriophyllum lanatum) is a perennial with yellow flowers looking much like true sunflowers. One flower head is borne on each flowering stalk, exhibiting great variability. There are many recognized varieties, some classified as rare.

Common wooly sunflower grows in full sun or part shade and is tolerant of a variety of soils including sand, clay and alkaline. It requires watering no more than once a month in summer.

It is deer resistant and supports many insects, hosting a likely total of 7 species of butterfly and moths.

Plant type

Perennial herb

Size

1 - 3 ft Tall
2 ft Wide

Dormancy

Summer Semi-deciduous

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Color

Yellow

Flowering season

Spring, Summer

Special uses

Deer resistant

Sun

Partial Shade, Full Sun

Water

Very Low

Summer irrigation

Max 1x / month once established

Ease of care

Moderate

Cold tolerance

Tolerates cold to -15° F

Soil drainage

Fast, Medium, Slow

Soil description

Tolerant of a variety of soils including sand, clay and alkaline.
Soil PH: 6.0 - 8.0

Propagation

For propagating by seed: No treatment. (Everett 1957).

Site type

Dry openings in many habitat types, especially hilly or mountain areas

Plant communities

Chaparral, Coastal Prairie, Douglas-Fir Forest, Foothill Woodland, Lodgepole Forest, Mixed Evergreen Forest, Northern Juniper Woodland, Northern Oak Woodland, Red Fir Forest, Forest, Sagebrush Scrub, Subalpine Forest, Valley Grassland, Yellow Pine Forest

Bats
Bees
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 7 likely

Confirmed Likely

Geranium Plume Moth

Amblyptilia pica

Orange Tortrix Moth

Argyrotaenia franciscana

Phalonidia latipunctana

Phtheochroa aegrana