Eriophyllum

( ehr - ee - oh - FILL - um )

At-A-Glance Information

Commonly known as Wooly Sunflower, this genus of wildflowers is native to western North America, with a concentration of species in California. They are drought-tolerant perennial and annual shrubs and subshrubs that produce daisy-form yellow or white flowers. Plants range in size from a few inches to over 6 feet tall, and typically produce wooly leaves and stems, hence the common name of the genus. Use these flowers in drought-tolerant or xeriscape landscapes, in cottage or wildflower/pollinator gardens, or in mixed beds and borders.

Eriophyllum species and Varietals

The genus Eriophyllum is a member of the plant family Asteraceae and includes around 45 distinct species. These shrubs and subshrubs grow best in USDA hardiness zones 3-10 or Sunset growing zones 5-24. ​To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Eriophyllum lanatum (Common Wooly Sunflower, Oregon Sunshine, Golden Yarrow, Wooly-Leaf Daisy)
This common, widespread wildflower is native to North America, and reaches up to 2 feet tall. Stems and leaves can (or can not be) covered in wooly grey hairs. Flowers are yellow. These plants can readily spread into open, disturbed grounds and residential areas but are not considered invasive.

Eriophyllum lanosum (White Wooly Daisy, White Easterbonnets, Wooly Daisy)
This species of wildflower is native to the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts in the United States and northern Mexico. Individual plants reach up to 4 inches tall when mature, and produce white flowers with yellow centers. Stems and leaves are wooly and greenish.

Eriophyllum mohavense (Mojave Wooly Sunflower, Barstow Wooly Sunflower)
This rare species of annual wildflower is native to the Mojave Desert, California. It produces yellow flowers and spoon-shaped green foliage. This species is considered imperiled due to military activities, grazing, off-road vehicles, and energy development in its native range. Individual plants are small, reaching up to 1.5 inches tall when mature.

Eriophyllum multicaule (Manystem Woolly Sunflower)
Native to California and Arizona, these plants rarely reach over 6 inches tall, and produce fleshy stems and bright green to purple-green foliage. Flowers are bright golden yellow.

Caring for Eriophyllum

Plant Woolly Sunflowers in a space in the landscape that receives full sun; ideally, they appreciate between 6 and 8 hours of sun each day for the best blooms. When these flowers are grown in less light, they will not flower as profusely. Ensure that soil is well-draining, rich in nutrients, and has a pH of between 5.0 and 8.3 (acidic to alkaline). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. At maturity, Eriophyllum plants are highly drought-tolerant, able to get by on rainwater alone for much of the year with supplemental waterings during extended periods of drought and hot weather. They are susceptible to root rot if overwatered.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. Pruning is simple; remove any damaged, diseased, or dead foliage at any time during the growing season, and remove spent flower spikes to neaten up the appearance of plants and encourage reblooms. In late winter or early springtime, cut the plat back by a quarter to a third of its size to maintain a tidy, mounded, compact shape. Perennial species can survive in the landscape for between 3 and 10 years before needing to be replaced. Annuals are typically pulled and composted at the end of the growing season and replaced in the next.

Propagation

Eriophyllum can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your shrub, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Eriophyllum by Cutting
  1. Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
  2. In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
  3. Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots. 
  4. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.

Propagating Eriophyllum by Seed
  1. Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
  2. Harvest your seeds in late August, and store them in a dark, dry place until you are ready to use them.
  3. In late winter, water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7-14 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
  4. Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Eriophyllum seeds.

Problems and Pests

Wooly Sunflower shrubs are generally pest and disease-free. For information on commonly encountered garden pests and diseases, consult the following pages:
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Gallery

The silvery foliage of these shrubs can add a different color to your garden.
Use Wooly Sunflower in mixed beds.
Spent blooms can be cut off the plant to neaten the appearance.

Videos

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Resources

How to Grow Eriophyllum
Wikipedia: Eriophyllum