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Wedelia texana (Zexmenia)
Marcus, Joseph A.

Wedelia texana (Gray) B.L. Turner

Zexmenia, Orange zexmenia, Wedelia, Hairy wedelia, Texas creeping-oxeye

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Synonyms: Zexmenia hispida, Wedelia hispida, Wedelia acapulcensis var. hispida

USDA Symbol: WETE

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Texas creeping-oxeye or Wedelia is a small shrub, from 8 in. to 3 ft. tall, woody at the base and herbaceous in the leafy parts, ranging from central and west Texas south into Mexico. Woody branches send down roots and gradually increase the plants circumference. Upper stems covered with stiff appressed hairs and rough to the touch. Rough-hairy, gray-green foliage. Leaves rough on both surfaces, varying in shape from lobed in the basal half on either or both sides to narrow and unlobed, with margins weakly toothed or untoothed. Flowers minute, in showy heads with yellow to orange rays appearing on petals of a single flower, on long stems (peduncles) extending vertically above the leaves. Daisy-like flowers which literally cover the plant from summer to frost.

Woody-stemmed and evergreen in the southern part of its range, this plant dies to the ground farther north. It is long-lived and non-aggressive.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Flower:
Fruit:
Size Class: 1-3 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Orange , Yellow
Bloom Time: May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov

Distribution

USA: TX
Native Distribution: Edwards Plateau, Rio Grande plains, Trans-Pecos & n.e. Mex.
Native Habitat: Fields & wood borders, Abundant on Edwards Plateau, Rio Grande Plains, less frequent in the Trans-Pecos and Southeast and North Central Texas. Well-drained sand, loam, clay, caliche, limestone.
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry , Moist
Soil Description: Dry, well-drained soils.
Conditions Comments: Zexmenia is long-lived, drought-tolerant, non-aggressive, and easy to grow. Excess water or shade can make it leggy; cut it back periodically. Woody-stemmed and evergreen in the southern part of its range, wedelia dies to the ground farther north.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Larval Host: Bordered Patch, Sierran Metalmark, Lacinia Patch butterfly
Nectar Source: yes
Deer Resistant: Moderate

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Wedelia texana is a larval host and/or nectar source for:
Bordered Patch
(Chlosyne lacinia)

Larval Host
Learn more at BAMONA

Propagation

Description: Use fresh seed, semi-hardwood cuttings, or layers for propagation.
Seed Collection: Not Available
Seed Treatment: Not Available
Commercially Avail: yes

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From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Fredericksburg Nature Center - Fredericksburg, TX
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Texas Discovery Gardens - Dallas, TX
Sibley Nature Center - Midland, TX
Brackenridge Field Laboratory - Austin, TX
Patsy Glenn Refuge - Wimberley, TX
Native Plant Society of Texas - Fredericksburg, TX
NPSOT - Fredericksburg Chapter - Fredericksburg, TX
NPSOT - Austin Chapter - Austin, TX
National Butterfly Center - Mission, TX
Jacob's Well Natural Area - Wimberley, TX
NPSOT - Williamson County Chapter - Georgetown, TX, TX

Herbarium Specimen(s)

NPSOT 0628 Collected Nov 6, 1993 in Bexar County by Mike Fox
NPSOT 0410 Collected May 28, 1987 in Bexar County by Harry Cliffe
NPSOT 0534 Collected Jul 27, 1987 in Bexar County by Harry Cliffe
NPSOT 0274 Collected Sept. 14, 1992 in Comal County by Mary Beth White

Wildflower Center Seed Bank

LBJWC-0013 Collected 2006-05-16 in Travis County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Bibliography

Bibref 1186 - Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr.
Bibref 1185 - Field Guide to Western Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides) (1999) Opler, P.A. and A.B. Wright
Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski

Search More Titles in Bibliography

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2010-07-10
Research By: LAL, GAP

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