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Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa)
Shrubs Around Las Vegas, Vegetation Around Las Vegas
Goldenhills [Brittlebush] (Encelia farinosa)

General: Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa), also called Goldenhills, is a rounded, knee-high to thigh-high shrub with relatively large gray leaves and with many flower stalks extending above the tight ball of leaves. Each flower stalk is tipped with a large, yellow, daisy flower. The flower stalks are branched and persist after the flower petals have dropped. The leaves covered in soft, canescent (felt-like) hairs.

Brittlebush is a common component of vegetation communities along washes, on bajadas, and on the lower slopes of mountains in the Upper Sonoran (Mojave Desert Scrub and Pinyon-Juniper Woodland) life zone. It can also be common component of hot, dry vegetation communities in the Lower Sonoran (Creosote-Bursage Flats) life zone.

Brittlebush is similar to a related species, Virgin River Brittlebush (Encelia virginensis), but in Virgin River Brittlebush, the flower stalks are unbranched, and the leaves are smaller and rough-hairy.

Brittlebush is also similar to Netvein Goldeneye, but in Encelia, the upper leaves are alternate and the dorsal leaf surfaces are smooth, while in Viguiera the upper leaves are opposite and the dorsal leaf surfaces show veins.

Goldenhills [Brittlebush] (Encelia farinosa)
Typical form: ball of leaves with flowers sticking out

Family: Sunflower (Asteraceae).

Other names: brittlebush, brittle bush, inceinso, Goldenhills

Plant Form: Small to medium sized, drought-deciduous shrub with a woody base and a rounded, much-branched form. A thicket of small branches supports an umbrella of relatively large, gray leaves.

Height: Usually about knee-high; to 3 ft.

Bark: Gray.

Goldenhills [Brittlebush] (Encelia farinosa)

Stems: Woody base with many short branches.

Leaves: Triangular (2 inches long), with a narrow tip and broad (1/2 to 1 inch wide) base, simple, smooth edge, alternate; silvery-gray to whitish; underside more hairy. Leaves located toward the ends of branches.

Flowers: Blooms in spring, also sporadically throughout the summer and fall in response to rain. Flowers daisy-like, yellow, 2-inch diameter, held on long, branching stalks above the leaves.

Seeds: Many small seeds; dispersed long distances by wind.

Habitat: Hot, dry, well-drained sandy, gravelly, and rocky soils.

Elevation: To about 3,000 feet.

Goldenhills [Brittlebush] (Encelia farinosa)
Notice the branched flower stalks (easier to see after the flowers)

Distribution: Occurs across the southern deserts from California to southwestern Utah and south into Baja California and northwestern Mexico.

Comments: Brittlebush is browsed by mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis), but it has little value for domestic livestock. Kangaroo rats (Dipodomys spp.) eat the seeds.

Brittlebush is hardy and easy to grow (transplants and seeds), making it useful for rehabilitating disturbed areas and for use in low maintenance landscapes (e.g., roadsides).

Brittlebush leaves produce a toxic substance that inhibits the growth of winter annuals.

Goldenhills [Brittlebush] (Encelia farinosa) Goldenhills [Brittlebush] (Encelia farinosa)
Goldenhills [Brittlebush] (Encelia farinosa) Goldenhills [Brittlebush] (Encelia farinosa)
Goldenhills [Brittlebush] (Encelia farinosa) Goldenhills [Brittlebush] (Encelia farinosa)
Goldenhills [Brittlebush] (Encelia farinosa)
Blooming in late winter (January 2014)
Goldenhills [Brittlebush] (Encelia farinosa)
Blooming during spring
Goldenhills [Brittlebush] (Encelia farinosa) Goldenhills [Brittlebush] (Encelia farinosa)
Goldenhills [Brittlebush] (Encelia farinosa) Goldenhills [Brittlebush] (Encelia farinosa)
Goldenhills [Brittlebush] (Encelia farinosa) Goldenhills [Brittlebush] (Encelia farinosa)
Goldenhills [Brittlebush] (Encelia farinosa)
The leaves covered in soft, canescent (felt-like) hairs
Goldenhills [Brittlebush] (Encelia farinosa)
The leaves covered in soft, canescent (felt-like) hairs
Goldenhills [Brittlebush] (Encelia farinosa)
The leaves covered in soft, canescent (felt-like) hairs (no spines)
Goldenhills [Brittlebush] (Encelia farinosa)
The leaves covered in soft, canescent (felt-like) hairs (no spines)
Goldenhills [Brittlebush] (Encelia farinosa)
Shrub putting up flower stalks and flower buds
Goldenhills [Brittlebush] (Encelia farinosa)
Shrub putting up flower stalks and flower buds
Goldenhills [Brittlebush] (Encelia farinosa)
Flower buds
Goldenhills [Brittlebush] (Encelia farinosa)
Flower buds
Goldenhills [Brittlebush] (Encelia farinosa)
Ray flowers have opened, but disk flowers still closed
Goldenhills [Brittlebush] (Encelia farinosa)
Open flowers a tips of branched stems
Goldenhills [Brittlebush] (Encelia farinosa)
Fully open Brittlebush flowers
Goldenhills [Brittlebush] (Encelia farinosa)
Fully open Brittlebush flowers
Goldenhills [Brittlebush] (Encelia farinosa)
Phyllaries lanceolate, spreading
Goldenhills [Brittlebush] (Encelia farinosa)
Phyllaries lanceolate, spreading
Goldenhills [Brittlebush] (Encelia farinosa)
Plant with spent flowers
Goldenhills [Brittlebush] (Encelia farinosa)
Plants retain flower stalks into the winter (note forked stalks)
Goldenhills [Brittlebush] (Encelia farinosa)
Dried flower stalk stand above plant during winter
Goldenhills [Brittlebush] (Encelia farinosa)
Branched flower stalks during winter

Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate. Names generally follow the USDA database.
copyright; Last updated 230428

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