Scientific Family
Asteraceae
Synonyms
Townsendia arizonica
Other common names
Easter daisy
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual or perennial
Height
To 8 inches
Riparian
No
Small, low growing plant with short stems and crowded leaves, topped by brilliant white daisy-like flowers.
Stems are short but definite.
Habitat
Sandy soils, limestone soils, rocky benches, shales, with pinyons and junipers, rare in grasslands.
Plant Community
Desert Scrub
Interior Chaparral
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Low elevation
3000
High elevation
7000
Flower Characteristics
White daisy-like flowerheads; ray flowers are often tinged with pink or lavender on the back side. Ray flowers up to 1/2 inch long.
Flower color
White
Flower shape
Daisy or dandelion-like
Tubular
No
First bloom month
March
Last bloom month
September
Flower clusters
None
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves are rounded on top, tapering toward the base, to 1-1/2 inches long. Leaves and stems are covered by short stiff hairs which gives them a silvery appearance.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Silvery-green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Hard shell.
Fruit type
Achene