Brittlebush, (Encelia farinosa) loves rocky hillsides and gravelly desert. And though this native shrub has a large range showing up in the Mojave and Great Basin Deserts, for me the bright yellow flowers atop the silvery foliage shout, “Sonoran Desert!”
If you’re interested in ethnobotany (why wouldn’t you be?) this is a good plant to add to your journal with its many uses, from chewing gum to incense. And listen, native plant nurseries grow and sell this wonderful wide ranging native, so plant or 2 or 3 in your personal habitat to remind you that the desert is beautiful. Yeah it is!
The photos were taken by my friend Kate Turner at her sweet little home in the desert outside Tucson. We’ve been friends for over 50 years, so It was fun to call her and ask her to take some photos for me. Big hug to her!
