Encelia farinosa aka Brittlebush

Encelia farinosa is a desert shrub in the daisy family. People call it brittlebush, goldenhills, and incienso. It grows wild in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Its range takes in Arizona and southern Nevada. It also grows in southwestern Utah and southern California. Its range reaches Baja California and northwestern Mexico as well. It grows on dry, stony slopes and in open desert scrub. In parts of its range, it forms large stands.

This shrub has a woody base and many brittle branches. Its round shape reaches about 3–5 feet (0.9–1.5 metres) tall. Reports give widths of about 3–5 feet (0.9–1.5 metres). Some sources report shorter plants, near 2.6 feet (0.8 metres). The gray bark has shallow grooves. Young twigs have a scent and bear soft gray hairs. Leaves grow in an alternate pattern, often near stem tips. They range from narrow to broad, or have a triangular shape. Fine hairs give them a gray-green to silvery look. Leaves can look almost white on very dry sites. The shrub sheds leaves when drought leaves too little water.

Yellow flower heads look like daisies and rise above the leaves on stalks. Some heads also have purple-brown color. They measure about 1–2 inches across. Flowers grow at stem tips, at times in loose groups. Bloom comes in spring and may follow rain. Plants For A Future also lists bloom in May. Insects pollinate the flowers. Each flower has male and female organs. The fruits are small, dry achenes.

Give brittlebush full sun and light soil that drains well. It suits soil with sand, loam, rocks, or gravel. It copes with soil from slightly acid to slightly alkaline. Once plants take root, they cope with drought and reflected heat. Long spells of wet soil do not suit it. It grows best with long dry spells and low humidity. Sources differ on how much cold it can bear. Oregon State gives USDA zone 7. Plants For A Future gives zones 8–11. That source also warns that frost can harm it. Use it in borders, as ground cover, or in mass plantings on slopes. Its pale leaves contrast with its yellow flowers.

People have used stem resin for incense, glue, and varnish. They have also used it to keep water out. Branches rich in resin have helped people start fires. Folk remedies used forms of the plant for toothache and other pain. These uses do not make it a food plant. Plants For A Future warns against eating it. It also warns against routine use inside the body. Compounds in the plant can irritate the mouth. They can also cause tingling and numbness. Keep that warning in mind with reports of chewing resin or brewing tea.