Encelia farinosa (Brittle Bush)
Botanical Information
| Family | Asteraceae |
| Genus | Encelia |
| Species | farinosa |
| Category | Tropicals, Woody |
| Type | Shrub (evergreen) |
| Origin | Southwestern United States of America and northwestern Mexico. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses Disclaimer | The stems have a sweet aroma and syrup-like resin which is still used in churches in some parts of Mexico as incense. Native American people are known to have used the same substance as glue and chewing gum. |
Details
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 8 |
| USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone | Requires cool season preotection under glass. |
| Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
| RHS Hardiness Zone | H4 |
| RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
| Temperature (°C) | - 10 - (-5) |
| Temperature (°F) | 14 - 23 |
| Height | 30 - 150 cm |
| Spread | 90 cm |
| Growth | Fast |
| Flowering Period | April, May |
Description and Growing Information
| Shape | Round and spreading. |
| Landscape | Gardens and border planting. |
| Propagation | Seed. |
| Cultivation | Full sun. Well-drained and moist soil. Prefers dry or moist gravel laden sandy and volcanic soil. Drought tolerant. |
| Notable Specimens | Desert Botanical Gardens, Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America. |
| Habitat | Dry gravelly slopes and open sandy washes. |
| Bark/Stem Description | Thick and woody branches. |
| Leaf Description | 5 - 6 cm leaves. The stems are tall, thin and leafless. |
| Flower Description | Daisy-like yellow flowers that form on a stem. |
| Colour Description | The leaves are greyish-silver or bluish-green. The flowers are yellow. |
| Texture Description | The leaves have a velvety texture. |
Photographs
