Engelmannia peristenia

This perennial grows several stout stems that form a rounded crown. The branches usually grow to two feet tall. Long-stalked, yellow, eight-petaled flowers open in the late afternoon, then fold under intense heat and sunlight the next day. Blooms about 1 1/2 inches in diameter are found in the terminal clusters. Eight to ten-ray flowers are a half-inch long, indented at the tip, and have eight to ten petals. Winter rosette-forming leaves have deep clefts and are toothed on the underside.

The plant thrives in drought conditions and is commonly found on the sides of roads. The genus Engelmannia is unusual in that it contains a single species.

This plant's genus is named after George Engelmann (1809-1884), a German-born Missourian who settled in St. Louis as a young man. He was a physician and botanist, describing especially North American Abies (Firs), Agaves, Cactus (for which he told more than 108 species), Cuscuta (Dodder), Euphorbiaceae (Spurge Family), Juncus (Rushes), Juniperus (“Cedar”), Pinus (Pines), Vitis (Grapes), and Yuccas. When he died, much of his collection went to Missouri Botanical Garden.

This plant is popular on roadsides and blooms well, even in drought conditions. Engelmann daisy is excellent in a garden border or a wildflower meadow. Each plant forms an evergreen rosette with deeply lobed leaves. Grows as a sturdy, heat and drought-tolerant plant. Birds relish the seeds.