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Desert Dandelion Wikimedia Commons
Asteraceae

Desert Dandelion

Malacothrix glabrata

Cheerfulness and resilience.

Family
Asteraceae
Genus
Malacothrix
Native to
Western United States, Northwestern Mexico
Bloom season
Spring
Type
Annual
Height
0.1-0.35 meters
Sunlight
Full sun
Soil
Sandy, well-drained
Water
Low
Hardiness
7-10
Lifespan
Annual

Did you know

  • Desert dandelions can carpet entire desert floors in yellow after a good rainy season.
  • Despite the name, they are not true dandelions but belong to a different genus entirely.
  • The flowers close at night and on cloudy days, reopening with sunlight.
  • Seeds can remain viable in the soil for years, waiting for the right rainfall conditions.
  • They are an important early spring food source for desert pollinators like native bees.

Color meanings

0

Happiness

1

Resilience

2

Fleeting beauty

Uses

  • Wildflower meadows
  • Pollinator gardens
  • Desert landscaping