Description

Elegant tarweed is named for the fragrant resin produced by the stems and leaves. The resultant sharp, pleasant aroma characterizes hot summer days in the open areas in which it grows. Elegant tarweed grows as a tall, narrow little sunflower topped with numerous round yellow flowers, often with red centers. It is one of a few annuals that blooms in the heat of summer, often extending into fall. It is a valuable food source for pollinators during those lean months. Elegant tarweed is native to all counties of the San Francisco Bay Area.