Groundcover · Sonoran native
Angelita Daisy
Tetraneuris acaulis · Asteraceae
Also called: Hymenoxys, Four-nerve Daisy, Stemless Four-nerve Daisy
Angelita Daisy (Tetraneuris acaulis) is a very low-water groundcover native to the Sonoran Desert region well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It grows to 8-12 in H x 10-12 in W, with a moderate growth rate. Expect bright yellow blooms Nearly year-round in the low desert, peaking spring and fall.
Angelita Daisy at a glance
- Water use
- Very Low (established)
- Sun
- Full sun to light/partial shade; flowers and stays densest in full sun.
- Mature size
- 8-12 in H x 10-12 in W
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Bloom
- Bright yellow, Nearly year-round in the low desert, peaking spring and fall; can bloom almost continuously with adequate moisture.
- Cold hardiness
- Cold hardy to roughly 0 to -20 F (USDA zones 4-10); thrives in low-desert heat.
- Soil
- Well-drained native soils; tolerates poor, rocky, alkaline soils. Needs good drainage and dislikes wet feet.
- Native range
- Western and southwestern United States including Arizona; widespread across the Colorado Plateau, Great Basin, and into the Sonoran Desert uplands.
- Best used as
- Groundcover, Mass plantings, Borders and edging, Rock gardens, Pollinator gardens, Small spaces and parking-lot islands
- Wildlife
- Flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators; deer resistant.
- Toxicity
- Not known to be significantly toxic to people or pets; not listed as a notable hazard.
How to grow Angelita Daisy in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Very drought tolerant once established; in Tucson water deeply every 1-2 weeks in summer for best flowering and every few weeks in cooler months. Overwatering causes legginess and rot.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Not needed; low fertility is fine. An optional light application of balanced or slow-release fertilizer in spring can boost bloom but is generally unnecessary.
Pruning & care
Shear off spent flower stalks and lightly trim the mound a few times a year, or do a hard cut-back in late winter, to keep it tidy and encourage fresh blooms.
Notes
A tough, evergreen, mounding perennial often used as a small-scale groundcover or accent. One of the longest-blooming low-water plants for Tucson. Reseeds modestly. Sometimes still sold under the older name Hymenoxys acaulis.
Sources: AMWUA Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert; University of Arizona Cooperative Extension; Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum; Tohono Chul / Tucson Botanical Gardens plant lists