Encelia

( en - SELL - ee - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

This deciduous shrub, commonly called Brittlebrush, grows 3 feet tall and 4 feet wide, needs full sun and little to no water. These bushes have sparse foliage, and the little that grows tends to drop off in hot weather. Yellow daisy flowers appear in loose clusters in spring. These shrubs are best for far areas of the garden that do not have any formal irrigation. Use on banks and sloped areas, in wildlife gardens, or as a tall groundcover in low-traffic areas.

Encelia Species and Varietals

The genus Encelia includes around 20 species and is a member of the plant family Asteraceae. The genus was named for German biologist Christophorus Enzelius (1517-1583). The best growing zones for Encelia vary depending on the species. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Encelia californica (Bush Sunflower, California Coast Sunflower)
Grows best in zones 7-16 and 18-24. Native to Southern California. Has bright green leaves and brown centered flowers. This species is a host plant for the Bay Checkerspot butterfly, a threatened species.

Encelia farinosa (Brittlebrush, Incienso)
This shrub grows best in zones 8-16, 18-24, and H1. Native to the Southwest. Silvery wooly leaves with yellow daisies.

Caring for and pruning Encelia shrubs

These shrubs are fast growing and easy to care for. Plant in full sun in sandy or well-draining soil and provide regular water as it is getting established. These shrubs are great in coastal gardens, tolerating seaside conditions with ease. Once mature, these shrubs do not need supplemental water (except in extreme drought conditions). After these shrubs are done blooming, cut back by about 1/3 or more to encourage a repeat bloom in the same year. Be careful not to overwater these shrubs; they are really best with some neglect. 

Propagation

  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. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows. 
  2. Harvest your seeds in late springtime. The seeds are left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them 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. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
  3. Note that not all of the seeds you've harvested will germinate immediately. Some take a week or so, others may take a few seasons. The seeds have a lot of germination inhibitors, but if you sow enough you should get enough for your planting needs.
  4. 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. 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.
  5. 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.

Problems and Pests

Encelia shrubs are generally pest and disease-free.
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Gallery

Encelia shrubs grow well on hillsides and dry areas.
Encelia shrubs do well in areas that don't have formal irrigation.
These shrubs make great additions to butterfly gardens, providing a great food source for these pollinators.

Videos

How to identify Encelia californica.
All about Encelia farinosa.

Resources

Encelia californica (California Brittlebrush)
Wikipedia: Encelia californica
Wikipedia: Encelia
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 300, Encelia
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or photos you’d like to add to the gallery, please let me know by sending me a message using the button below!
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