Description

This member of the sunflower family grows in coastal mountains from southern Monterey County into northern Baja, Mexico. It prefers woodland and chaparral settings. Sacapellote grows as an expanding fountain of stems with fairly large lance-shaped leaves. The leaves are somewhat sticky and clasp the stem. In spring many of the leafy stems are topped with clusters of lavender flowers, which are quite showy and attract a wide range of pollinators. As the plant produces seed it begins to go dormant and will largely disappear above ground by the end of summer. Sacapellote re-appears the following spring. Plant this unusual native among evergreen, dry-loving shrubs.