Brittlebush

Encelia farinosa

Rounded drought-deciduous shrub up to 4 ft. tall with bright yellow daisy-like flowers on tall stems above gray-green leaves, blooming November to June or throughout the entire year given adequate monsoon rainfall. Adapted to dry, rocky or gravelly soils on slopes and mesas and on desert pavement; up to 4,000 ft. elevation. One of the most common and conspicuous yellow flowered shrubs in the Sonoran and Mojave deserts. Often found with Creosote bush (Larrea tridentata). Weak ability to root sprout after wildfire, but good offsite colonizer via wind dispersed seeds. Establishes easily. Browsed by mule deer and bighorn sheep. Forage for desert tortoise. Attracts the caterpillars of the Painted lady butterfly.