California Compassplant
Wyethia angustifolia
- Native to:
- United States
John Rusk (www.flickr.com) from Berkeley, CA, United States of America
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Genus:
- Wyethia
- Species:
- Wyethia angustifolia
- USDA Symbol:
- WYAN
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 60 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun,jul
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Coleophora wyethiae, omnivorous leaftier (Cnephasia longana)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Fernald cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus flavidus), Indiscriminate cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus insularis), Two-form bumble bee (Bombus bifarius), Yellow bumble bee (Bombus fervidus), Yellow-faced bumble bee (Bombus vosnesenskii)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies, birds
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from deep taproot following fire; historically common in fire-maintained grasslands and oak savannas.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- well-drained, sandy or loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- prefers open, sunny habitats
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–42 days
- Notes:
- Seeds benefit from cold stratification; germination can be erratic.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Requires 90 days of cool (38°F) moist stratification in the refrigerator to break dormancy and achieve even germination.
Establishment: Seeds are collected between July 1st and August 31st. The seed is brown at maturity. The transplant survival averages 40%. The plant is found in open grassy slopes from sea level to 5,500 feet elevation; from Tulare and San Luis Obispo counties, California, north to Washington.
Source: npn.rngr.net