California flannel bush is notably drought-tolerant and has showy yellow blossoms each springeven in hot, dry climates.
California flannel bushis a native plant that thrives inhot, dry climatesand fast-draining soil.
However, what it lacks in form and outline, it makes up for in flowering.
Credit: Hedrich-Blessing Studio
From late spring to midsummer, the striking evergreen shrub is blanketed with showy yellow blossoms.
California flannel bush gets its common name from the fuzzy hairs that cover the plants leavesbut dont touch them.
Wear gloves and other protective gear when handling.
Credit: Hedrich-Blessing Studio
The perennial shrub is also known to thrive in poor, rocky, and coarse soils.
In the wild, California flannel bush grows shallow, wide-spreading roots that stretch in search of water sources.
These shallow roots help stabilize the plant against strong winds.
Wearing gloves, dig a hole twice as wide and just as deep as your plant’s root ball.
Water the planting hole.
Gently water your flannel plant and separate it from its container without excessively disturbing the roots.
Credit: Hedrich-Blessing Studio
Place your plant in the center of the hole and backfill the hole with the displaced soil.
Do not pack the soil tightly.
ensure the top of the roots are even with ground level.
Water just until the surrounding soil is moist.
Provide young plants with just enough water to survive until winter rains arrive.
After that, your flannel plants may not need additional watering.
Credit: Laurie Black
When in doubt, leave established plants alone.
The tough, drought-tolerant shrubs thrive on almost total neglect.
Well-draining soil at least 10 feet from irrigation sources is essential for success.
Credit: Denny Schrock
California flannel plants are alsonotably drought-tolerant.
Gardeners in some regions report never having to water their California flannel bushes.
Your plant may wilt in very hot weather but resist the urge to water itespecially during the growing season.
Credit: Tim Murphy
Remember, in the shrubs natural habitat, summers tend to be dry.
Temperature and Humidity
California flannel bush prefers hot, dry summers and mild winters.
It is not tolerant of high humidity or cold temperatures below 22 Fahrenheit.
Credit: Bob Stefko
If winters in your region fall below freezing, consider a different shrub.
Fertilizer
California flannel bushes do not need fertilization.
Adding fertilizer could damage or kill the plant.
Pruning
Prune young California flannel bushes only to encourage branch density.
Avoid pruning older shrubs unless you wish to curtail their growth.
Pests and Problems
California flannel plant has few (if any) issues with pests and diseases.
Overly moist soil and overwatering increase the likelihood of crown rot, root rot, and other fungal issues.
How to Propagate California Flannel Bush
California flannel bush propagation is notably complicated and only occasionally successful.
It can, however, be done via seed or cuttings.
you’re free to also sow them directly in the ground in late fall or early winter.
If your region has particularly warm winters, opt for artificial stratification.
Keep the containers in a cool, protected spot until they germinate.
If successful, your seeds should be ready for potting in mid- to late May.
Just note that the resulting plants may not resemble the parent plant.
Cut just below the new seasons growth node and remove any leaves from the base.
Your rooting medium must be well-draining.
Keep your cutting on aheated bench or heating pad(kept at 65) and out of direct sunlight.
Add just enough ambient mist to lightly wet the leaves.
If successful, you should be able to plant your newly-rooted plants in early spring.
It grows 3 feet tall and 6-8 feet wide in zones 8-10.
Use it to anchor a hillside.
It grows 4 feet tall and 8 feet wide.
Plant in zones 8-10.
‘California Glory’ Flannel Bush
California glory (F. californicumF.
mexicanum) is the most common cultivar of flannel bush.
It is fast growing and grows as tall as 20 feet in zones 8-10.
It is a prolific bloomer with bright, lemon-hued flowers lemon tinged with orange and red.
The blooms arrive in spring and often stick around through the end of summer.
So they make an easy companion for native California flannel bushes.
California poppies prefer full sun and well-drained soil.
They require little (if any) maintenance and can easily reseed in the garden for years to come.
They are often found growing in the California Chaparral, a semi-arid region dominated by shrubs and dwarf trees.
Manzanitas range from just a few inches tall to towering 20-foot-tall plants.
They vary greatly in shape and form and fare best in temperate landscapes.
Like California flannel bush, manzanitas grow best in full sun and well-drained soil.
They do not grow well in soil that is moist in summer.
Matilija Poppy
Matilija poppy is a tall, sprawling perennialnative to the American southwest.
Amusingly, from early spring to midsummer, it bears paper-thin flowers that resemble fried eggs.
Matilija poppy is hardy in zones 7-10 and, like California flannel bush, is extremely drought-tolerant.
It prefers well-drained soil with a pH between 5.0 and 8.0.
It features spectacular pink and magenta flowers in spring that arepopular with bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.
Like the California flannel bush, it does best in regions that dont fall below 20 Fahrenheit.
Yarrow
Yarrowis a classic garden perennial known for its ruggedness.
Yucca
Yuccasare tough plants that canstand up to some serious drought.
Grown primarily for their showy evergreen foliage, some yuccas grow towering spires of white blossoms.
Yucca plants work well in rock gardens and low-water landscapes.
Frequently Asked Questions
In the wild, California flannel bush reproduces through root sprouting and seed distribution.
The seeds are often dispersed by ants, which feed on the attached fatty eleiosomes without harming the seeds.
It is an ability the shrubs have adapted over millennia along with many other chaparral plants.
In the wild, the shrub is most abundant after fire “top-kills” the plant.
Fremontodendron Californicum, California Flannelbush 2021.
United States Department of Agriculture- Fire Effects Information System.
