Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Orobanchaceae

Genus:

Cordylanthus

Species:

Cordylanthus rigidus

USDA Symbol:

CORI2

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Annual

Growth Habit:

Forb/herb

Height:

100 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

High

Bloom Months:

jun,jul,aug,sep,oct

Bloom Colors:

purple, yellow, white

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)

Butterflies & Moths:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)

Reported Fauna Sightings

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

bees, butterflies

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fire Ecology:

Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire

Fire Notes:

Found in chaparral and coastal sage scrub communities that experience periodic fire; recolonizes from seed bank post-fire.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

sandy, nutrient-poor, well-drained soil

pH:

5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

dry to moderate

Notes:

often found in coastal scrub and chaparral habitats

Propagation & Germination

Notes:

Hemiparasitic annual; seeds may require host plant roots nearby for successful establishment.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI