Woodland Madia
Anisocarpus madioides
Care
part shade
very low
Fast, Medium
2–2ft tall
Mar-Aug
Deciduous
Friendly
Prized
Central Valley and adjacent foothills from Butte County to San Luis Obispo County, below 2000 ft in grassland and oak savanna.
Care Guide
Planting
Plant Woodland Madia in part shade with fast-draining or medium-draining soil - it's native to forest and woodland habitats, so it prefers conditions similar to dappled shade under trees rather than full sun or deep shade. Plant in fall or early spring to let the root system establish before summer. Space plants about 2 feet apart since they grow to 2 feet tall.
After Planting
Water moderately during the first growing season to help establish roots, then cut back to very low water once established - aim for no more than twice a month in summer. In fall, cut back dead flower stalks, but leave them standing through seed set first if you want the plant to self-sow (though it won't spread aggressively). Year 1 is typically easy: expect yellow spring flowers and a deciduous plant that will die back in winter, which is completely normal.
Wildlife Supported
Insects
documented larval host plant; caterpillars feed on foliage during spring-summer
larval host plant for spring broods
larval food plant during spring emergence
larvae feed on plant tissues during summer growth
fungal pathogen; ecological role in plant disease dynamics
larval host plant during active growing season