Viguiera deltoidea
Common: Golden Eye, Desert sunflower
Family: Asteraceae
Origin: Mexico
Light: Full sun to part sun, tolerates reflected heat
Water: Low water use
Soil: Well drained soil
Evergreen shrub, up to 3 feet tall (90 cm), 3 feet spread (90 cm).The Golden Eye Viguiera has yellow flowers in spring and fall.
The species name "deltoidea" means "looking like the greek letter delta (a triangle)". The Golden Eye is often used in foundation planting for its bright seasonal colors.
As most sprawling shrubs, the golden eye needs yearly trimming after the blooming season.
Desert Sunflower is a interesting perennial shrub with two inch yellow composite flowers that bloom in summer. If you live in a cold site do not tear the plant out and throw it away after your winter. It grows in some cold spots of Ca., Nev. and Ariz. but they do not get long term cold. The plants do not experience frozen ground well. The sharp cold of the desert seems to be ok.
It is native in many soil types and desert rainfall (some winter and summer) amounts of 4-8 inches per year. By the way the evaporation in American deserts range from 70-160 inches/year (MacMahon).