Bransford, W.D. and Dolphia
Stanleya pinnata (Pursh) Britt.
Desert princes' plume, Golden princes' plume, Golden desert plume, Sentinel of the plains
Brassicaceae (Mustard Family)
Golden prince’s-plume is a graceful, desert perennial. Its leaves are mostly basal on low, branched, sub-woody crowns. The towering flowering stalks are 5-6 ft. tall and bear racemes of bright-yellow flowers. The flowers are reminiscent of cleomes or spider flowers.
Stem leaves are lance-shaped and pinnately divided. Slender wands of yellow flowers top tall, stout, smooth, bluish-green, leafy stems.
This is a conspicuous and beautiful wildflower in the arid West, its flowers generally standing above any nearby shrubs. All other species have yellow flowers without hairs except White Desert Plume (
S. albescens), which has hairs on the inside of its white petals. It occurs from northeastern Arizona to west-central Colorado and northwestern New Mexico.
The genus was named in honor of Lord Edward Stanley, a former President of the Linnean Society. The species pinnata describes the feathery appearance of the lower leaves.
Image Gallery:
10 photo(s) available
Plant Characteristics
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Fruit: Size Class: 3-6 ft.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep
Distribution
USA: AZ , CA , CO , ID , KS , MT , NE , NV , NM , ND , OR , SD , TX , UT , WY
Native Distribution: ND to ID, s. to Trans Pecos, TX & s.e. CA
Native Habitat: Dry, stony slopes & washes
USDA Native Status: L48(N) Growing Conditions
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Description: Stony or sandy soils.
Conditions Comments: Not Available
Last Update: 2010-09-09
