Native Plants
Plant Database
Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.
Pectis angustifolia
Pectis angustifolia Torr.
Limoncillo, Lemonscent, Crownseed Pectis, Lemon-scented Pectis, Lemonscent Pectis, Lemonweed, Chinchweed, Fetid Marigold
Asteraceae (Aster Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: PEAN
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
Lemonscent or limoncillo is a low, tidy annual, 5-8 in. tall, with slender, leafy stems. The fleshy, linear leaves are usually lemon-scented. Yellow, 1/2 in. blooms occur in clusters.
Leaves used for flavoring and hot tea. A good low-growing plant for rock gardens or borders.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: AnnualHabit: Herb
Size Notes: Up to about 8 inches tall.
Leaf: Green
Flower: Flowers 1/2 inch
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: YellowBloom Time: Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct
Distribution
USA: AZ , CO , KS , NE , NM , OK , TX , UT , WYNative Distribution: N. to Wyoming and Nebraska, w. to Arizona and Utah, e. to central Texas, and s. to Veracruz. Concentrated in southwestern deserts, particularly the Chihuahuan Desert
Native Habitat: Sandy, often calcareous, dry uplands
Growing Conditions
Water Use: LowLight Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
CaCO3 Tolerance: High
Soil Description: Sandy or gravelly soil. Caliche type, Gravelly, Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam
Conditions Comments: Leaves used for flavoring and hot tea. A good low-growing plant for rock gardens or borders.
Benefit
Use Ornamental: Grows in clumps, Aromatic, Low growing, Rock gardens, Border, Mass plantingUse Wildlife: Nectar-Bees, Nectar-Butterflies, Nectar-insects, Seeds-Granivorous birds
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Propagation
Propagation Material: SeedsDescription: Sow seed in sping or fall.
Commercially Avail: yes
Find Seed or Plants
View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.
Mr. Smarty Plants says
Edible Native Plants for a Small Austin Garden
March 15, 2010
Hello Mr. Smarty Plants (or Mrs. or Miss, whomever is answering this go'round)!
First off, thank you so much for all the help you have given me in the past. Secondly, the company my husband works ...
view the full question and answer
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Sibley Nature Center - Midland, TX
Bibliography
Bibref 355 - Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest (1991) Miller, G. O.Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Bibref 248 - Texas Wildflowers: A Field Guide (1984) Loughmiller, C. & L. Loughmiller
Bibref 291 - Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender
Bibref 328 - Wildflowers of Texas (2003) Ajilvsgi, Geyata.
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.From the Archive
Wildflower Newsletter 1984 VOL. 1, NO.1 - First issue. Lady Bird\'s Center is a dream come true. National Clearinghouse a ...Additional resources
USDA: Find Pectis angustifolia in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Pectis angustifolia in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Pectis angustifolia
Metadata
Record Modified: 2025-03-28Research By: TWC Staff