Description
A stunning native sunflower, narrowleaf mule’s ears creates a sunny display on dry slopes and open habitat at low to mid elevations in the Klamath-Siskiyou Mountains. A perennial wildflower in the sunflower or aster (Asteraceae) family, mule’s ears has large, showy yellow flowers up to 3″ in diameter that bloom May-July depending on elevation. It grows from a stout taproot, is drought-tolerant and prefers sandy to loamy well-drained soils and full sun. Tolerant of clay soil as well. Mule’s ears grows 1′-3′ tall and is winter deciduous. Generally found in yellow pine forest, foothill woodland, chaparral, valley grassland, and on open ridges. The large leaves are 3″ wide and up to 16″ long. Native to California, Oregon and Washington, narrowleaf mule’s ears is also known as California compassplant. Highly attractive to pollinators of all kinds, especially bumble bees and butterflies. Birds eat the seeds, especially goldfinches. Deer resistant! Seed germination requires three months of cold-moist stratification.
Mule’s ears (Wyethia angustifolia) seed packets contain approximately 65 seeds.
Seed Germination Instructions
90 days of cold-moist stratification is recommended. Sow seeds outside in fall and let nature do the stratification naturally outside, if you have cold enough winters. If you live in an area with mild winters, you may need to provide the cold-moist stratification artificially. For more information please read through the information in our Seed Germination and Propagation Reference Guide.
