This is a bit of a collectors plant for me. Island Bristleweed is a rare plant from the Northern Channel Islands. It’s rare in the nursery trade— I managed to snag the last three plants from Artemisia Nursery and as far as I can tell those were the last three in the retail plant space in Southern California. For me I absolutely love this plant because of it’s foliage. Foliage colors are important in design since flowers are ephemeral, but foliage is pretty much forever. Since Island Bristleweed has a very pale, fuzzy foliage, it’s a good replacement for the Palmer’s Mallows since it will appear striking even when it’s not in bloom. I first saw it at Kuruvunga Springs growing in shade close to a spring— at that point I knew it would probably be OK in my yard in part sun with once a month water. We’ll see if I kill it or not, but I’m very hopeful for this plant.

Calscape