- Author: Diana Bryggman
Ever wondered about the importance of using botanical names to describe a plant? All three of the names above are acceptable variations of the native wildflower, Wyethia mollis. Seems enough of a reason to me to stick with the botanical name!
You have probably seen these herbaceous perennials in a Sierra meadow in June or July, a mass of yellow flowers cradled by huge green oval leaves. Much to my surprise a few are gallantly growing on a steep hillside near my home, flowering NOW in March, inspiring me to do a bit of research on them. I knew them as “Mules Ears”, having forgotten the “Woolly” part of the name. When I began to investigate, I found that there are several species native to different western states: Arizona, Utah and Colorado each has its own species.
California's version of Wyethia, Wyethia mollis, grows on both sides of the Sierra Nevada, from Fresno County north to Southeast Oregon. It is a member of the Asteraceae family and seems to thrive in rocky soil between trees, just as I found it on the Green Valley hillside. Research indicates it grows in the upper chapparal landscape, forest, juniper or sagebrush landscapes. In other words, it is widely distributed across the Northern California foothills and mountains.
The committed native gardener will be glad to know it is being commercially propagated by at least one nursery in California, and in the garden I imagine it would look a bit like its Asteraceae cousin, Gaillardia, but one whose leaves have been treated with steroids. It provides erosion control in the wild, thanks to its tough taproot. When I see it in a nursery, I intend to give some a try, so that, with any luck, my front yard will echo the native landscape just across the street.