Description

California helianthella is found in most of California’s mountain ranges. It is absent in the deserts and (surprisingly) the Central Coast. In Santa Clara County one encounters this bright little sunflower on the grassy slopes of the Diablo Range. Like its near cousins in the genus Wyethia, it grows as a whorl of lance-shaped leaves from a deep tap root. The tap root stores energy during summer dormancy when all above ground growth disappears. As the plant matures, the tap root grows larger and deeper, resulting i more and larger leaves. In springtime, California helianthella sends up multiple flower stems topped with yellow daisy flowers. Each flower head produces dozens of seeds. Although tolerant of some water, it will go dormant in the summer whether watered or not. Enjoy a patch of this unusual plant during the spring and early summer in a spot in the garden where the dormancy is tolerable.