Oregon Sunshine
Oregon Sunshine is for people who want miniature sunflowers in their garden—that are incredibly drought-tolerant and feeds endangered native pollinators, including lots of butterflies. If you have a sunny dry spot in your yard, park, or garden, read on to learn how to add this easy-to-grow plant to your life.
- Full Sun
- Short (under 3')
- Summer flowers
- Host Plant
What is Oregon Sunshine?
Oregon Sunshine, also sometimes called Woolly Sunflower, is native to Oregon, California, and the Great Basin. It is in the sunflower family, but grows much lower, usually less than 2 feet tall.
It forms a low mass of lovely fringed, gray-green foliage that looks nice with other colors in the garden. Then in late spring and early summer, it puts on a gorgeous show of sunny yellow flowers—which brings lots of butterflies.
In the wild, it is often found in thin, dry, rocky or sandy soils, from sea level all the way to elevations of 10,000 feet. This easy-to-grow, drought-tolerant plant deserves a place in your garden.
Beat the heat
Oregon Sunshine survives in dry, desert habitats with cool adaptations. The leaves and stems are covered in tiny, fuzzy white hairs, which reflect heat away and reduce the water lost to evaporation.
How does Oregon Sunshine benefit native wildlife?
Oregon Sunshine is a favorite of native bees and butterflies—some of which are endangered—which come for the delicious nectar. It’s a host plant for several species, meaning they need this plant to live on as caterpillars.
The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation lists Oregon Sunshine among its top flowers for pollinators.
Some butterflies and months that use Oregon Sunshine as a host plant includes the painted lady butterfly.
What is a host plant?
A host plant is a specific plant that a bug, butterfly, or caterpillar eats, lives on, or lays its eggs on.
How to grow Oregon Sunshine
Oregon Sunshine is easy to grow in sunny, dry areas and is not picky about soil as long as it’s well drained (meaning, it’s not frequently soggy after rains). It prefers full sun, but can handle some shade. It’s hardy to zone 3. As a bonus, Oregon Sunshine is not a favorite of deer.
It’s perfect for rock gardens and water-wise (xeric) gardens. It also looks lovely along walkways, in borders, and in cottage-style gardens with other wildflowers.
You can grow Oregon Sunshine from seed or buy it as a plant. If you get it as a plant, you’ll need to baby it a little while the plant gets over the shock of transplant. After its first season or two, when it’s established, it will never need more than rainwater—it’s actually recommended not to water this plant.
Where is Oregon Sunshine native?
Oregon Sunshine is native to the western side of North America, from Montana to California.
Where can I find Oregon Sunshine?
It can be hard to find native plants (though it’s getting better all the time!) We’ve assembled some resources to make it easier.
Where can I find seeds and plants?
Finding native plants can be challenging (we partly blame Marie Antoinette.) To make it easier, we’ve assembled four sourcing ideas.
Native Nursery List
300+ native nurseries makes finding one a breeze
Online Native Plant Sellers
We've included 100+ online resources to help
Society Plant Sales
Every state has a native plant society; find yours
Online Communities
Local Facebook groups are a great plant source
What are good pairings for Oregon Sunshine?
Pair Oregon Sunshine with California Poppy to continue the orange-yellow palette, or make an eye-catching combination with native Purple Clarkia wildflowers.
Or combine it with late-blooming flowers, such as asters or Rubber Rabbitbrush, so that you have a show (and pollinator food) all season long.
And there you have it—a gorgeous native miniature sunflower for your rock garden. Plant Oregon Sunshine for a dose of bright yellow flowers and butterflies year after year.
Next, check out more Native plants for butterflies, or for a perfect companion plant in a water-wise garden, head over to read about the iconic California Poppy. Happy planting!
Sources
- Oregon State Extension, Oregon sunshine — Eriophyllum lanatum
- Calscape, Common Woolly Sunflower
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, Common Woolly Sunflower.
