Brittlebush
Encelia farinosaFound in dry stony/gravelly slopes, creosote bush scrub.
Up to 3000'
Blooms March-May
Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa) is one of the most recognizable shrubs of the Mojave and Sonoran deserts. Here is a clear, visitor-friendly overview you could use:
Brittlebush is a gray-green shrub with round, woolly leaves that feel soft to the touch. Its name comes from its brittle, easily broken stems. In spring, usually from March to May, it bursts into bright yellow daisy-like flowers, covering desert hillsides with color. The plant can grow 2 to 5 feet tall and often forms rounded clumps.
It thrives in rocky soils, washes, and open slopes where rainfall is scarce. The fuzzy coating on its leaves helps it conserve water by reflecting sunlight and reducing moisture loss. Native peoples used brittlebush resin as glue, incense, and even chewing gum.
Wildlife also benefits: bees, butterflies, and other pollinators flock to the flowers, while the seeds provide food for small animals. Even when not in bloom, its silvery leaves give the desert a soft, muted look.
Desert Habitat:
A common desert shrub of northwestern Mexico and the southwestern United States. Its common name comes from the brittleness of its woody stems.
It is also called incienso because its dried stems were burned by early Spanish settlers as incense.
Description
Encelia farinosa grows to 1 m tall, with fragrant leaves 3-8 cm long, ovate to deltoid, and silvery tomentose. The capitula are 3-3.5 cm diameter, with orange-yellow ray florets and yellow or purple-brown disc florets. They are arranged in loose panicles above the leafy stems fruit 3-6 mm and there is no pappus.
Wildflower photo taken at Joshua Tree National Park