Eriophyllum staechadifolium (Seaside Woolly Sunflower) - A dense native evergreen subshrub to 1 to 2 feet tall with a rounded form and having white stems that are mostly hidden by the crowded deeply divided leaves that first emerge a gray color, but mature to dark green and have margins that are rolled under. In summer appear the abundantly produced small golden daisy flowers consisting of both ray and disk florets that are clustered at the tips of 2- to 3-foot-long stems.
Plant in full sun in a well-drained soil where it requires little irrigation but tolerates a more regular watering and looks better with at least occasional irrigation. Cold hardy to 10 degrees F or less. A bit of a sleeper out of bloom with leaves that have a bit of a bitter aroma when bruised but very attractive plant when in in flower that is somewhat reminiscent of a large yarrow.
Eriophyllum staechadifolium grows primarily along the coast from Santa Barbara County northward to Oregon and on the Channel Islands where it can be found in dunes and coastal scrub at elevations under 300 feet. The name for the genus comes from the Greek words 'erion' meaning "wool" and 'phyllon' meaning "leaf," referring to the wooly white hairs that cover the plant and the specific epithet is an alternative spelling for stoechadifolium, which means leaves like lavender, from Lavandula stoechas also known as Spanish lavender. The deeply lobed leaves with rolled-under edges are also thought to have the shape of a lizard when viewed from above which has also given the plant the common name Lizard Tail. Our plants from stock received from Suncrest Nurseries as they closed down in June 2023.
This information about Eriophyllum staechadifolium displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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