Brittlebush Encelia farinosa
Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa) is an evergreen perennial shrub in the Asteraceae family, native to Sonoran and Mojave deserts (rocky slopes). It grows 60 cm–1.2 m (24 in–3.9 ft) tall and 80 cm–1.4 m (31 in–4.6 ft) wide, wants full sun and low water, and is hardy to about -5 °C (23 °F). Space plants about 1 m (3.3 ft) apart.
Plan Brittlebush in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Brittlebush at a glance
| Type | Perennial shrub, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Asteraceae |
| Mature height | 60 cm–1.2 m (24 in–3.9 ft) |
| Mature spread | 80 cm–1.4 m (31 in–4.6 ft) |
| Spacing | 1 m (3.3 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 8 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Low; drought tolerance high, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Soil pH | 6.5–8.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About -5 °C (23 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 9) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 48 °C (118 °F) |
| Flowering | from about March for 6–11 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Moderate |
| Pollinator value | High |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Sonoran and Mojave deserts (rocky slopes) |
| Common in gardens of | 🇺🇸 United States, 🇲🇽 Mexico |
Is Brittlebush toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
No toxicity reported in ASPCA or standard poison references.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Brittlebush
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and low water.
See Brittlebush in a botanical garden
It grows in these sample gardens, which you can walk through in 3D:
- The Huntington (4 plants)
- UC Botanical Garden, Berkeley (3 plants)
- Desert Botanical Garden (32 plants)
Questions about Brittlebush
- How far apart should I plant Brittlebush?
- About 1 m (3.3 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 80 cm–1.4 m (31 in–4.6 ft).
- Does Brittlebush need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 8 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Brittlebush need?
- Low water. Drought tolerance is high and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Brittlebush?
- It tolerates about -5 °C (23 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 9.
- When does Brittlebush flower?
- From about March for 6–11 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Brittlebush poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. No toxicity reported in ASPCA or standard poison references.
- What grows well with Brittlebush?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Brittlebush. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (low).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- Desert Botanical Garden plant collections and trails, Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix
- Calscape: California native plants, California Native Plant Society
Notes and assumptions
- Desert plant: needs sharp drainage and little summer water once established; rots in wet, heavy soil.
- Silver-white felted leaves reflect heat; turns whole hillsides gold in February–April.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Lettuce Lactuca sativa
- Sunflower Helianthus annuus
- French marigold Tagetes patula
- Zinnia Zinnia elegans
- Cosmos Cosmos bipinnatus
- Purple coneflower Echinacea purpurea
- Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta
- French tarragon Artemisia dracunculus