Layia

( LAY - ee - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of annuals, also called Tidytips, includes species that need full sun and little to no water to perform well in the garden. They are classic springtime wildflowers that love growing in meadows and grasslands. Their yellow flower petals are tipped with white and leaves are grey-green. Layia is a very drought-tolerant choice for gardens and is wonderful when planted among other wildflowers. It will self-sow and naturalize in well-drained planting sites as long as it does not have to compete with other plants for water or light. Most species in the genus are native to California and the Pacific Northwestern region of the United States. Use Tidytips to attract pollinators and other wildlife to the garden, in rock gardens, in wildflower or natural landscapes, or amongst other flowering plants in mixed beds or containers.

Layia species and varietals

The genus Layia is a member of the plant family Asteraceae and includes 20 species. Species in the genus are closely related to Sunflowers, Common Daisies, Chamomile, Chrysanthemums, Dahlias, and Lettuce. Tidytips grows well in UDSA hardiness zones 3-11 or Sunset growing zones 1-10 and 14-24. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Layia chrysanthemoides (Smooth Tidytips, Smooth Layia)
This species is endemic to California's Central Valley, and tops out at around a foot and a half tall at maturity when in bloom. Green leaves have fuzzy or prickly edges, and lower leaves may be lobed. Flower heads hold white tipped golden petals around a yellow center.

Layia fremontii (Fremont's Tidytips, Foothill Tidy-Tips)
Named for John C. Fremont, plants in this species are endemic to California. These annual herbaceous plants reach about 16 inches tall when in bloom and have somewhat fleshy green foliage. Flower heads are bright yellow with white tips.

Layia gaillardioides (Woodland Tidytips)
This species, endemic to California, is an aromatic annual herb that produces an erect stem up to 3 feet tall. Flower heads are yellow, sometimes with white-tipped petals, and are held singularly at the tip of thin green-tan stems.

Layia glandulosa (White Tidytips, White-daisy Tidytips, White Layia, Yellow Rayed Layia)
These annuals reach a little over a foot and a half tall when in bloom. Stems and foliage are dotted with dark glandular hairs, and plants are sometimes scented. Flowers are white and have yellow centers. Leaves are green.

Layia heterotricha (Pale Yellow Tidytips, Pale Yellow Layia)
This species, endemic to California, is an annual flowering plant that reaches up to 35 inches tall when mature and in bloom. Green stems and foliage are covered in hairs. Leaves are oval-shaped and fleshy. Flowers are pale yellow to cream-colored with yellow centers. Plants have an apple or banana-like scent.

Layia patyglossa (Layia ziegleri) (Coastal Tidytips, Common Tidy Tips)
This annual wildflower is native to California, Arizona, and Utah. They grow well on grassy valley floors and open scrub landscapes. They bloom from March through June, creating a display of lemon-yellow daisy-form flowers.

Caring for Layia

Layia, or Tidytips, should be planted in an area of the garden that receives full sun. Ideally, these flowers appreciate basking for between 6 and 8 hours a day. Plant in well-draining soil that is moderately fertile with a pH of between 5.6 and 8.2 (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. Mulch the planting area with organic material 1-2 inches thick. Mulching helps to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and increase soil moisture retention. Water newly planted Tidytips regularly to help it develop a strong root system. At maturity, these plants are drought-tolerant, able to get by on rainwater alone with some supplemental waterings in the warmest months of the year. They do not need to be planted in an area of the garden that has irrigation.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with a 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. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this should be sufficient to provide the necessary nutrients for the active growing and flowering seasons. Do not overfeed Layia, as doing so will cause legginess and result in fewer flowers. Prune to remove spent flowering heads (unless you will be collecting seeds for propagation). These flowers are annuals, completing their entire life cycle in just one year. They can be pulled and composted at the end of the growing season or simply left in place to enrich the soil. They will freely re-seed in ideal conditions, providing plants for the landscape indefinitely.

Propagation

Layia 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 Tidytips, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Layia by Cutting

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.
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 3-4 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.
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.
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 plant.

Propagating Layia by Seed

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.
Harvest your seeds. The seed heads are left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds. Cut the seed heads off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to release the seeds. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
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.
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.