Practical
Plants

Encelia farinosa

Brittle Bush

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Encelia genus in the family Compositae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Encelia
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Height
0.75 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A gum that exudes from the ends of mature stems is used for chewing[8][1][2]. It is aromatic[5].

Product or use
Gum

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A decoction of the blossoms, leaves and stems has been held in the mouth to alleviate a toothache[6]. A poultice of the plant has been used to alleviate pain[6].

Product or use
Analgesic
Product or use
Odontalgic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A resin that exudes from the ends of mature stems is used as a glue and as an incense in the home and in church[8][2][3][5][6]. It has also been used to waterproof containers and has been melted then used as a varnish[6]. The resinous branches have been used to make a quick fire[6].

Product or use
Adhesive
Product or use
Fuel
Product or use
Incense
Product or use
Resin
Product or use
Varnish
Product or use
Waterproofing

Environment

Range
South-western N. America - California to Utah and Arizona.
Habitat
Dry stony slopes to 1000 metres[9].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
drought
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. Only just cover the seed and pot up the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle[4]. Grow on in a greenhouse for at least their first winter, making sure the pots are deep enough to accommodate the tap root, and plant out in early summer. Cuttings, in pure sand, in a frame[4]. The report does not specify the type of cutting.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a very warm sunny position in a deep very well-drained soil[4][7]. Plants strongly resent wet conditions, especially in the winter[4]. This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[4]. Another report says that the plants will tolerate temperatures down to -12°c if they are in quite dry conditions[7]. The young growth in spring, even on mature plants, is frost-tender and so it is best to grow the plants in a position sheltered from the early morning sun[K]. Plants have a taproot and resent root disturbance[4]. They should be planted out into their permanent positions whilst still small, though they will then need protection from the cold for their first winter or so[K].

References

  1. Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.

    ↩

  2. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩1↩2

  3. Pesman. M. W. Meet Flora Mexicana. Dale S. King. Arizona. 1962-00-00

    ↩

  4. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  5. Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6

    ↩1↩2

  6. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  7. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Pan Books, London. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-330-37376-5

    ↩1↩2

  8. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

  9. Munz. A California Flora. University of California Press 1959-00-00

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