Bractless Evening Star
Bractless Evening Star
(AKA Bractless Blazingstar)
Mentzelia nuda
Panayoti calls them "Steppe Stars" - he says they are not Blazing Stars (the common name for Liatris), more like 'Evening Stars'...
This plant smothers itself in blooms on a 1-3' plant. I find it growing from 5-8000'. Sometimes my gulley has an exceptional year and it covers the banks, sending up a lovely scent in the evening. They open in the afternoon and explode with these glorious creamy flowers. The leaves are sticky - it is sometimes called, 'stickleaf', and is supposed to have inspired Velcro. The leaves have barbed hairs and can stick to your clothes.
This plant is Biennial or Perennial and has years where they are everywhere, and then not so much - common for some of our most intrepid natives. They can make a wonderful dome on good years, or only shoot up a few branches, but when they open, you will notice.
They bloom July - September. You can pre-soak the seeds to aid in germination. Allow it to reseed once you have it and then you'll be happy forever more.