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Native Plant Database

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Tetraneuris grandiflora (Alpine sunflower)
Bransford, W.D. and Dolphia

Tetraneuris grandiflora (Torr. & Gray ex Gray) Parker

Alpine sunflower, Graylocks four-nerve daisy, Old-man-of-the-mountain, Rydbergia

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Synonyms: Hymenoxys grandiflora, Rydbergia grandiflora

USDA Symbol: TEGR3

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Out of a low mat of feathery leaves covered with cottony white hairs, rise 3-4 in. sunflowerlike flower heads on stems usually less than a foot high. The bright yellow petals with three teeth at the tip surround a broad, domed center which turns from yellow to tan with age.

In a complicated genus, this has the largest and prettiest heads (grandiflora means large-flowered) in the West.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Flower:
Fruit:
Size Class: 0-1 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: May , Jun , Jul

Distribution

USA: CO , ID , MT , UT , WY
Native Distribution: S.w. MT & adjacent ID, s. to w. CO & n.e. UT
Native Habitat: Alpine tundra; mt. meadows
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil pH: Circumneutral (pH 6.8-7.2)
Soil Description: Moist, gravelly, limestone-rich soils.
Conditions Comments: Grows best where summers are cool and dry. Some populations die abruptly after flowering, so it is a good idea to stagger plantings over several years.

Propagation

Description: Propagate by seed.
Seed Collection: Not Available
Seed Treatment: A moist, cold treatment enhances germination.
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

From the National Suppliers Directory

According to the inventory provided by Associate Suppliers, this plant is available at the following locations:

Oregon Native Plant Nursery - Woodburn, OR

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Tetraneuris grandiflora in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Tetraneuris grandiflora in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Tetraneuris grandiflora

Metadata

Record Modified: 2007-01-01
Research By: TWC Staff

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