Wyethia mollis

Identification

Gallery

Description

Woolly Mule Ears grow on both sides of the Sierras from Fresno County up into Eastern Oregon and Nevada. Wyethia mollis (syn. Alarconia a., Helianthus longifolius, H. Hookerianus, robusta, foliosa, solanensis) grows in open ground in upper chaparral, forest, juniper and sagebrush landscapes. Generally these are in the rocky soils or between trees. They do not limit the trees, but the trees limit them. So you'll often find them in solid patches after a fire or clear cut. As cover of Ceanothus, manzanita or other brush species of the area fills in, the trees seed in and the Wyethia is displaced. In your landscape us as a filler between bushes, or in the (cool) sunny spot with garbage soil that seems to not support life. Not for full sun spots unless you live in someplace like Denver. In most of California they need some afternoon shade.