Golden Eardrops

Ehrendorferia chrysantha

Native to:
Mexico, United States

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Papaveraceae
Genus:
Ehrendorferia
Species:
Ehrendorferia chrysantha
USDA Symbol:
EHCH

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Forb/herb
Height:
150 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
Medium
Bloom Months:
apr,may,jun,jul,aug
Bloom Colors:
yellow

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
Butterflies & Moths:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
bees, butterflies
Deer Resistant:
Yes
Fire Ecology:
Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
Fire Notes:
Often found in post-fire chaparral and burn areas; resprouts from deep taproot and populations increase after fire disturbance.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
well-drained, rocky or sandy soil
pH:
6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
native to arid and semi-arid regions

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
Germination Time:
30–180 days
Notes:
Germination can be erratic and slow. Seeds benefit from cold stratification and may require light for optimal germination.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI