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Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa)Shrubs

Brittlebush

Encelia farinosa

Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa) is a shrub, hardy in USDA zones 8-11, that matures to about 3 ft tall x 3-4 ft wide. It does best in full sun with low water needs. Expect yellow blooms in winter and spring. It attracts bees, butterflies and birds, stands up well to deer, drought and heat, grows happily in containers.

USDA zones
8-11
Sun
Full sun
Water
Low
Mature size
3 ft tall x 3-4 ft wide
Bloom color
Yellow
Bloom season
Winter, Spring
Attracts
Bees, Butterflies, Birds
Tough against
Deer, Drought, Heat
Native to
Sonoran and Mojave deserts (southwestern US and Mexico)

In the landscape

Silver foliageMass plantingDrought tolerantLow maintenanceDesert bedSlopeParking stripBorder

Freeze survival

Will it survive your winters?

Hardiness zones show a normal bad winter. We check the worst one — Brittlebush is hardy to about 10°F (estimated from USDA zone 8), so we'll score it against the real coldest nights your area has actually had.

Powered by ~35 years of daily lows from the nearest NOAA weather station. A risk read, not a guarantee — a sheltered spot or mature plant beats the odds.

See the Brittlebush in your own yard

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