Flora's Paintbrush Emilia

Emilia sonchifolia and Emilia fosbergii are two plants in the genus Emilia that are referred to as tasselflower.   They are distinguished from each other by the flowers and leaves. While both have a dark green upper leaf and a lighter green underside Emilia sonchifolia's lower leaves are rounded to kidney shaped, while its upper leaves have a narrow/oval shape. The leaves can grow up to 6" long.  The leaves of Emilia fosbergii are smaller, growing up to 4" long, and have a narrow oval shape.

Flowers on Emilia sonchifolia are flat-topped, while the flowers of Emilia fosbergii are bell-shaped.  

They can be found growing in a variety of soil types in pastures, along roads, the edges of forests and unfortunately in nurseries, greenhouses and other disturbed sites, which in turn can spread to your garden.  Each plant can produce in excess of 5,000 seeds.

Tassel-flower is an annual or perennial plant in the Asteraceae (daisy) family native to Africa and Asia that has naturalized in North America and other tropical locations.  Upright stems are sparsely branched and dotted with red, pink or lavender flowers that resemble tassels, hence the common name. Some varieties can be quite weedy.

Stems of young plants are distinctively hairy, but they lose hairs with age. Seed heads are small (1/2 inch or less in diameter) dandelion-like globes of wind-dispersed seed. 

Plant in the front of the border in well-drained soil in full sun. They are tolerant of heat and humidity and the flowers are long-lasting and give an airy appearance. They can be grown in containers and make good cut flowers

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Some are weedy and can be difficult to manage.