Kellogg’s Tarweed: A Golden Native Annual for Western Gardens
If you’re looking to add some late-season sparkle to your native plant garden, Kellogg’s tarweed (Hemizonia kelloggii) might just be the unsung hero you’ve been searching for. This cheerful annual wildflower brings golden blooms to the landscape when many other plants are calling it quits for the season.
Meet This Native Beauty
Kellogg’s tarweed is a true California native that also makes its home in parts of Arizona. As an annual forb (that’s garden-speak for a soft-stemmed, non-woody flowering plant), it completes its entire life cycle in one growing season. You might also see it listed under its synonym, Deinandra kelloggii, in some botanical references.
Where You’ll Find It Growing Wild
This adaptable native calls the southwestern United States home, specifically California and Arizona. In the wild, you’ll spot it dancing in grasslands, nestled in chaparral communities, and peeking out from oak woodlands.
Why Your Garden Will Love Kellogg’s Tarweed
Here’s where this little charmer really shines in the garden landscape:
- Pollinator magnet: Those bright yellow, daisy-like flowers are absolute bee and butterfly magnets, providing crucial late-season nectar when other blooms are fading
- Low maintenance: Once established, it’s quite drought tolerant and doesn’t need much fussing over
- Self-seeding: This annual will often reseed itself, creating naturalized drifts in your garden
- Extended bloom time: Flowers from late summer into fall, extending your garden’s color season
Perfect Garden Spots
Kellogg’s tarweed is ideal for:
- Native plant gardens and wildlife habitats
- Wildflower meadows and naturalized areas
- Pollinator gardens that need late-season interest
- Low-water landscapes and xeriscaping projects
Growing Conditions That Make It Happy
This easygoing native prefers:
- Sun exposure: Full sun for best flowering
- Soil: Well-draining soils (it’s not picky about soil type)
- Water: Drought tolerant once established, though some supplemental water during dry spells helps
- Climate: Thrives in USDA hardiness zones 8-10
Planting and Care Tips
Getting started with Kellogg’s tarweed is refreshingly straightforward:
- When to plant: Direct seed in fall for spring germination, mimicking natural cycles
- Planting depth: Barely cover seeds with soil – they need light to germinate
- Spacing: Allow plants room to spread naturally in informal drifts
- Watering: Keep soil lightly moist until germination, then reduce watering as plants establish
- Maintenance: Minimal care needed once established – just let it do its thing!
A Few Things to Keep in Mind
While Kellogg’s tarweed is generally well-behaved, remember that as an annual, you’ll need to allow it to set seed if you want it to return next year. The plant has a somewhat informal, wildflower appearance that’s perfect for naturalized gardens but might not suit formal landscape designs.
Since this is a true native species, you’re not just adding beauty to your garden – you’re supporting local ecosystems and providing habitat for native wildlife. It’s a small but meaningful way to give back to the natural communities that make the Southwest so special.
The Bottom Line
Kellogg’s tarweed offers western gardeners an opportunity to grow a beautiful native annual that supports local pollinators while requiring minimal care. If you’re building a native plant garden, creating pollinator habitat, or simply want to try something new that connects your landscape to the local ecosystem, this golden wildflower deserves a spot in your garden plans.
