Woolly Sunflower
Eriophyllum lanatum (Pursh) Forbes var. lanatum
overview
Perennial herb 10-60 cm tall with several often lax stems from the base. Woolly, grey-green leaves usually lobed but may be entire, 1-8 cm long. Bright yellow flowers, 2-5 cm across, singly atop long stems. Fruit is a slender four-angled achene with a pappus of 6-12 translucent scales, or a toothed crown (Pojar and MacKinnon,1994). Photo by Moralea Milne.
other names
Oregon sunshine, woolly eriophyllum
family
Asteraceae
ecological setting
Dry, open habitat, rocky slopes. Low to middle elevations (Pojar and MacKinnon, 1994).
soil texture
Coarse, well drained.
moisture regime
Dry to moderately dry.
shade tolerance
Full sun to part shade.
landscaping
Good as rockery plant, for dry banks and the perennial border. Long blooming period and silvery-green foliage.
flowering time
May – June
fruit ripening time
June – July
seed collection time
August
crop intervals
Annual
seed viability
>80%
collection and abstraction
Hand collection of dried flower heads into paper bags. N.B. Since there are variant forms of the plant and they tend to stay true to size it is worth collecting seeds from specimens which suit the end use (Kruckeberg, 1982).
seed storage
Sow fresh or the following spring, following cool, dry storage. Viability after longer periods of storage not known.
additional info and photos
For more information and pictures, visit the E-Flora BC website at www.eflora.bc.ca.