California Goldenbush, Isocoma Menzii

I love watching this plant’s long, stalk-like foliage bounce in the wind. I was initially drawn to CA natives by its fall form—especially given LA’s bad rap for having “no seasons.”

Evergreen perennial, meaning it stays mostly green year round. It grows numerous tall, green stalks (2-5 ft) in a vase like form with yellow flowers at the tips of each stalk.

Flowers arrive in summer and last until fall. During fall, some of the older foliage gets a bit crusty; flowers die off and dry into white, delicate, feathery seeds that fly away in the wind or when gently tapped like dandelions. Fun for the whole family.

Lots of local pollinators hang out near this thing. Spittlebug is common among local flies and bees (including sweat bees and bumblebees!).

Can give it an annual, hard cut back in the fall so it resets in spring.