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Easter Daisy Townsendia exscapa

Other Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Townsendia sericea
Phonetic Spelling
town-SEN-dee-uh eks-SKAY-puh
Description

Stemless Townsend Daisy is a short-lived perennial wildflower in the daisy family found in semidesert areas, woodlands, foothills, and open areas in central and western North America usually at higher elevations.  The plants are quite short and hug the ground with their furry gray-green leaves. The flowers have many white to pinkish rays that surround the center yellow disc flowers and bloom from March to May depending on the area. It grows only 1-7 inches tall depending on rain fall and the basal leaves are often dried up by flowering time. 

Use in a naturalized area or rock garden in sandy well-drained soil in full sun. This plant will not do well in areas of high humidity or heavy wet soils.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#white flowers#spring flowers#hairy leaves#sandy soils tolerant#dry soils tolerant#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#white flowers#spring flowers#hairy leaves#sandy soils tolerant#dry soils tolerant#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Townsendia
    Species:
    exscapa
    Family:
    Asteraceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    The Blackfeet used a decoction of the roots to treat tired horses.
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Canada, western U.S.A., Mexico
    Distribution:
    AZ , CO , ID , KS , MT , ND , NE , NM , NV , OK , SD , TX , UT , WY
    Wildlife Value:
    Attracts humming birds, bees and butterflies and other birds or small mammals looking for seeds
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Perennial
    Wildflower
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Dry
    Very Dry
  • Fruit:
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Achene
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Achenes, flattened, less than 1/4 inch long, pubescent; pappus of ray and disk flowers rigid, finely-barbed bristles, about twice as long as achenes.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Head
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Radial
    Flower Petals:
    more than 20 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    Stemless to nearly stemless flowers with many white to pinks rays surrounding yellow disc flowers are 1-1.5 inches across
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Soft
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Rosulate
    Leaf Shape:
    Oblanceolate
    Spatulate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Linear, narrowly oblanceolate or spatulate, up to 2.5 inches long fuzzy gray-green leaves
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    Harry gray-green stems if present
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Slope/Bank
    Small Space
    Landscape Theme:
    Rock Garden
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Hummingbirds
    Small Mammals
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Dry Soil