Native Plants

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Anderson, Wynn

Simsia calva

Simsia calva (Engelm. & A. Gray) A. Gray

Awnless Bush Sunflower, Bush Sunflower

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: SICA7

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

From the Image Gallery

51 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Size Notes: Up to about 5 feet tall.
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Orange , Yellow
Bloom Time: Jan , Feb , Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov , Dec
Bloom Notes: Petals often brown- or purple-lined, or wholly brown or purple abaxially.

Distribution

USA: NM , TX
Native Distribution: Central Texas west to southeastern New Mexico, south to Nuevo Leon in northeastern Mexico
Native Habitat: Frequent in all but the northeastern region of Texas on dry uplands. Well-drained limestone and caliche.

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Conditions Comments: Bush sunflower is an extremely drought tolerant plant for a chalk prairie. It provides nectar for butterflies and seeds for songbirds.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Birds , Butterflies
Nectar Source: yes
Deer Resistant: Minimal

Propagation

Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

Order seed of this species from Native American Seed and help support the Wildflower Center.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Fredericksburg Nature Center - Fredericksburg, TX
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
NPSOT - Austin Chapter - Austin, TX
National Butterfly Center - Mission, TX
NPSOT - Williamson County Chapter - Georgetown, TX

Herbarium Specimen(s)

NPSOT 0710 Collected Apr 1, 1994 in Bexar County by Mike Fox
NPSOT 0627 Collected Nov 6, 1993 in Bexar County by Mike Fox

2 specimen(s) available in the Digital Herbarium

Bibliography

Bibref 286 - Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country (1989) Enquist, M.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-01-16
Research By: TWC Staff

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