Water Wise Plants

grin-DELL-ee-a hir-SU-too-la

Great Valley Gumweed

Perennial

3 ft. wide x 2 - 6.6 ft (0.6 - 2 m) tall

Very Low: water deeply several times a summer

Full sun

Yellow

Grindelia hirsutula is native to California and Baja California, where it can be found in a number of habitats including chaparral and woodlands. Its range may extend into Nevada. Its erect, branching stems are lined with many stiff, wavy-edged, serrated leaves 2 to 3 cm long. Atop the stem branches are inflorescences of a single large flower head up to 3 cm wide. The head is a vaguely thistlelike cup of green clawlike phyllaries that bend downward. The centre of the head is filled with yellow disc florets and there are usually many yellow ray florets around the circumference. The flower head fills with a copious white exudate, especially during the early stages of blooming. It is a traditional Native American medicinal plant, used by the indigenous peoples of California and also a major pollinator attractant.