Description

The matchweed is one of the many members of the sunflower family adorning California. It is most prevalent in the peninsular ranges of southern California but continues in the interior coastal ranges all the way to Mount Diablo in Contra Costa County. In Santa Clara County it has been sighted in Henry Coe State Park. The matchweed grows on sunny hillsides as a round or mounding shrub with needle-like foliage. In the spring, clusters of small, round daisy flowers appear at the tip of each stem. With the advance of summer heat, the California matchweed naturally goes dormant, losing its leaves entirely. In this way it is similar to many other plants of dry, sunny sites, such as deerweed, Acmispon glaber, common sun rose, Helianthemum scoparium, and golden yarrow, Eriophyllum confertiflorum. This may be accommodated in the garden by planting the matchweed among other evergreen shrubs where its dormancy will go unnoticed. California matchweed prefers a sunny, well-draining site.