Virginia Tech Dendrology

brittlebush Asteraceae Encelia farinosa A. Gray ex Torr. symbol: ENFA
Leaf: Alternate, simple, evergreen (drought deciduous), broadly ovate to triangular, 2 to 3 inches long, entire margins, silvery gray (nearly white when on very dry sites), white curly hairs particularly on the undersides.
Flower: Very attractive, bright yellow daisy-like flowers, each 1 to 2 inches across, appearing at the ends of twigs on long stalks (elevating the flowers well above leaves) in the spring or after rains.
Fruit: A composite of small achenes.
Twig: Barely woody, light reddish gray, young twigs are gray fuzzy and fragrant.
Bark: Gray and shallowly furrowed.
Form: Small mounding shrub up to 3 feet tall and equally as wide.
Looks like: California brittlebrush

Additional Range Information: Encelia farinosa is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDAFS FEIS Silvics - USDA Plants Database
All material 2025 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information