Lygodesmia grandiflora aka Showy Rush Pink

Lygodesmia grandiflora belongs to the daisy family, Asteraceae. It is a perennial: it lives for more than one year. People call it skeleton plant or largeflower skeletonplant. The sources differ on how far its native range extends. Kew’s checklist gives Utah as its native home. Plants For A Future lists seven western United States states. These include Colorado, Idaho, and Wyoming. It also lists New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah. It places the plant in open, dry sites. These lie in valleys and foothills.

The plant grows to about 2 feet (0.6 metres) tall. The supplied evidence gives no width. Nor does it describe the plant’s form in detail. It gives no details on stems or leaf shape. Each flower has both male and female organs. Plants For A Future says insects pollinate the flowers. The source does not say when the plant blooms. It gives no flower colour or details about the fruit.

Plants For A Future lists this species for sunny garden beds. It says the plant cannot grow in shade. Light sandy soil and medium loam both suit it. The soil should drain well, but the source says it prefers moist soil. This differs from the dry wild sites it describes. The plant accepts soils that are mildly acid or mildly alkaline. Neutral soil also suits it. The source stresses how little we know about growing it. It suggests the plant may grow outdoors in milder parts of Britain. It does not confirm that it can withstand British winters. Nor does it give a hardiness zone.

To grow it from seed, sow in spring in a cold frame. Cover the seed with just a thin layer of soil. Move young seedlings into their own pots when large enough to handle. Keep them in a greenhouse through at least their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer. Wait until the risk of frost has passed. The source also suggests trying division in spring, or splitting the plant.

Records list cooked leaves as food. People have used them as greens and to add flavour. Folk records describe chewing leaves to promote breast milk. People have also put sap on sores caused by sunburn. These records do not prove that either treatment works or is safe. Plants For A Future reports no known hazards. It also reports no weed potential. The supplied evidence gives no details of specific pests or diseases.