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Oregon Sunshine (Eriophyllum lanatum). One of 100+ species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
Close-up of cheerful yellow Oregon Sunshine flowers (Eriophyllum lanatum). One of 150+ species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
Oregon sunshine (Eriophyllum lanatum). One of 150+ species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
Silvery-green foliage of Oregon sunshine (Eriophyllum lanatum). One of 150+ species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.

Oregon Sunshine

Eriophyllum lanatum

Mounds of feathery foliage, abundant mini-sunflowers, and drought-resistance make Oregon sunshine a favorite for sunny rock gardens, border edges, and parking strips. It's intricate, lacey leaves display a unique silvery-green hue when young, adding excellent texture to your habitat garden. Once it begins to flower, it transforms into a pollinator powerhouse; attracting native sweat bees, mining bees, mason bees, hover flies, and tachinid flies and acting as a nectar source for the endangered Fender’s Blue butterfly as well as a host plant for several species of native butterflies and moths. 

  • Plant type/canopy layer: deciduous, perennial, herbaceous plant
  • Size at maturity: 6-24" tall, spreading up to 24" wide
  • Light requirements: full sun, but tolerates part shade
  • Moisture requirements: dry to moist soil, requires well-drained
  • Bloom time: April - September (May - August in the Portland Metro area)
  • Growth rate/ease: fast growth rate, easy to grow
  • Wildlife support: flowers attract native sweat bees, mining bees, mason bees, hover flies, tachinid flies, and butterflies and are a nectar source for endangered Fender’s blue butterfly; overall plant is a caterpillar host and larval food source for Orange Sulphur and Painted Lady butterflies among others 
  • Native habitat/range: can be found growing in many habitat types, most often in dry open places or rocky slopes but sometimes along coastal bluffs, from near sea level to 3500m, across nearly all of the Pacific Northwest. Portland Plant List - yes.  
  • Special features & uses: traditionally Miwok peoples used the leaves in a poultice for body aches, the Skagit used the leaves to prevent chapping and the Chehalis used the dried flowers as a love charm; landscape uses include pollinator gardens, rock gardens, meadowscapes and parking strips 

Gardening with Oregon Sunshine: Plant in dry, full sun areas of your meadowscapes, pollinator gardens, rock gardens, or parking strips to give them splashes of yellow in summer. It can be difficult to establish due to its tendency to rot, especially during exceptionally wet winters, if the soil drainage isn't good enough - so be sure to plant it in well-draining areas. It is usually very hardy once established in the right place. 

Photo Credit 1: "Eriophyllum lanatum var. integrifolium" by pellaea is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Photo Credits 2 - 4: Karli Del Biondo, Beetles and Bees

Photo Credit 2: "File:Eriophyllum lanatum kz01.jpg" by Kenraiz is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo Credit 3: "File:Eriophyllum lanatum closeup-6-08-04.jpg" by ThayneT is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0