prairie wildflower
Woolly paperflower
Psilostrophe tagetina
Also known as Paperflower
Native to Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah
Western Texas to southeastern Utah, south to northern Mexico
- Light Full sun to part shade Sun tolerance
- Moisture Dry Moisture preference
- Zones n/a Cold to heat range
- Bloom Feb–Oct Flowering time
- Height
- Life cycle Biennial or perennial Annual to perennial
In the garden
A prairie wildflower for full sun to part shade and lean, dry soil.
Growing conditions
Light
Full sun Partial shade Full shade
Moisture
Dry Moist Wet
Pollinators & wildlife
- Butterflies Gray Hairstreak
also Orange Sulphur, Checkered White, Reakirt's Blue +2 more
Gorgone Checkerspot, Mitoura gryneus
Butterflies that use this plant
Documented host and nectar records. Each links to a planting guide for that butterfly.
- Checkered whitenectar
- Gorgone checkerspotnectar
- Gray hairstreaknectar
- Juniper hairstreaknectar
- Orange sulphurnectar
- Reakirt's bluenectar
Full plant details
Where it grows
- Habitat
- PrairieThe wild plant community it grows in.
- Native range
- Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and UtahUnited States (5): AZ, CO, NM, TX, UT. Where it grows wild on its own, by state and province.
- Native distribution
- Western Texas to southeastern Utah, south to northern MexicoThe same native range, usually more exact than the state list, and often noting where it has spread beyond it.
Growing conditions
- Light
- Full sun to part shadeHow much sun it takes, from full sun to full shade.
- Moisture
- DryThe soil dampness it prefers, from dry to wet.
- Soil
- Rocky or sandy soils. Sandy, Sandy Loam Medium Loam, Clay, Clay LoamThe soils it grows in naturally.
- Water use
- LowHow thirsty it is, a rough guide to how often to water.
Growth & form
- Life cycle
- Biennial or perennialWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).
Flowers, foliage & fruit
- Type
- WildflowerWhat kind of plant it is.
- Bloom
- Feb–OctWhen it flowers.
- Flower color
- YellowThe bloom color, or colors.
- Toxicity
- None knownWhether any part is poisonous to people or pets.