Menzies' Goldenbush
Isocoma menziesii
- Native to:
- Mexico, United States
Peter D. Tillman (www.flickr.com) from USA
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Genus:
- Isocoma
- Species:
- Isocoma menziesii
- USDA Symbol:
- ISME5
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Subshrub
- Height:
- 120 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- aug,sep,oct,nov
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Melissodes Latreille, ⚠️Western honey bee (Apis mellifera), Yellow-faced bumble (Bombus vosnesenskii) Hummingbirds: Costa's Hummingbird (Calypte costae) Moths:Cisthene faustinula, Cisthene liberomacula, Salt Marsh Moth (Estigmene acrea) Butterflies:Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus), Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), Marine Blue (Leptotes marina), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Small White (Pieris rapae), Wandering Skipper (Panoquina errans), Western Pygmy Blue (Brephidium exilis), White Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius albezens)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies, beneficial insects
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from root crown following fire; common in coastal sage scrub fire regimes.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- Thrives in coastal scrub and chaparral habitats.
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily without pretreatment; surface sow as seeds may need light.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds are surface sterilized using a 3 minute Physan fungicide soak or a 3 minute 5% bleach solution prior to testing or sowing.
Establishment: Coast Goldenbush is found throughout southern California and the Channel islands. There are 4 botanical varieties on Catalina island: var. decumbens, menziesii, sedoides, and vernonioides. Seeds are small, grey to tan, and with a fine pappus.
Source: npn.rngr.net