Viguiera

( vig - WY - err - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

Commonly called Goldeneye or Sunflower Tree, this genus of shrubby perennials needs full sun and little water, making them great candidates for inclusion in water-wise gardens. They are desert-native yellow to orange daisies that can be used to restore native vegetation and stabilize soil in problem areas. Viguiera is native to many countries, including Argentina, Brazil, northern Chile, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela, and the United States (in Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico).

Viguiera Species and Varietals

The genus Viguiera is a member of the plant family Asteraceae and includes between 19 and 40 species, depending on the classification system used. The genus name honors French physician L. G. Alexandre Viguier. It was first described and formally published as a genus in 1818 by German botanist Cark Sigismund Kunth. The best growing zones for Viguiera vary by species. For more information, see the following descriptions. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Viguiera deltoidea (Viguiera parishii)
Best in zones 10-24 and is native to California, Arizona, Nevada and Mexico. Free-branching and sprawling habit; to 3 feet tall and wide. Green to grey-green hairy leaves and springtime yellow daisies.

Viguiera multiflora
Best in zones 2, 3, and 10-13, this native to Montanta to California and Arizona reaches 1-3 feet tall and 1.5 feet wide, with hairy green leaves and spring or summer flowers. This species will bloom in the first year from seed.

Caring for and pruning Viguiera shrubs

Plant these shrubs in full sun, where they will receive between 6 and 8 hours of direct sun daily. Ensure that soil is well-draining; these shrubs prefer sandy or loam soils, but can adapt to a wide variety of soil types. These plants are considered to be drought-tolerant at maturity, requiring waterings when the soil dries out. As they are getting established in the landscape, provide regular waterings to support the growing root system. These pants are not heavy feeders, but may benefit from a yearly, balanced fertilizer in the spring to encourage healthy foliage growth and flowering. Apply a layer of mulch around the base of the plant after installing to increase soil moisture retention, suppress weed growth, and maintain a healthy soil temperature.

Pruning is minimal; simply remove spent flower heads (if you're not going to propagate via seed), and trim to shape and neaten the shrub after flowering has ceased. The best time to do a more heavy prune is in late winter or early spring, especially if a rejuvenation is needed. These plants can be cut back to the base and will regrow in the same season. Viguiera is adapted to warm climates, and may incur some frost damage in times of the year with extended periods of frost or cold temperatures. Make sure to mulch around the base of the plant to protect roots, and cover in the wintertime, if necessary. Some Viguiera species are not strong-stemmed and have a more sprawling habit. These species can be staked up to prevent bending or breakage of stems, especially during times of heavy wind and rain.

Propagation

Viguiera can be propagated either by division, 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 Viguiera 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. 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.
  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 Viguiera 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. 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. The best time to harvest seeds is when the stem beneath blooms begins to turn brown. Bracts will be browning at this time, as well. Cut the flower(s) off of the plant, and shake them over a container to release the seeds. If not many seeds are released in this process, set the flower(s) aside to develop a little longer, and try again a few days later.
  3. 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.

​Propagating Viguiera by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil (any kind will do, though it does need to be well-draining), compost, and pots (12 inch pots will do, and these are only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in spring or fall (after the plant has entered dormancy and been cut to the ground, but before it has begun its new spring growth), and needs to be done every four to five years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:
  1. Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the roots. Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
  2. Start to tease apart the roots with your gloved fingers. Once the roots are untangled, separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each one has at least one thick tuberous section.
  3. Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your divided tubers about an inch under the soil surface and water thoroughly.
  4. Apply a thick layer of mulch over the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home. Then, enjoy watching it sprout.

Problems and Pests

Although these shrubs are generally resistant to pests and diseases, they can have issues with the following common garden pests:
  • Aphids
  • Spider Mites
  • Caterpillars
  • Powdery Mildew
  • Scale Insects
For more information on these issues, see the following links:
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Gallery

Use Viguiera in mixed desert-style plantings.
These are profuse bloomers.
These shrubs are well-adapted to sandy, dry soils.

Videos

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Resources

Texas Native Plant Week: Goldeneye
Wikipedia: Viguiera
Viguiera deltoidea
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 650, Viguiera (Goldeneye)
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