Location specific values:
Array
(
    [lat] => 32.356800
    [lng] => -97.415100
    [elevation] => 246.7052
    [rainfall] => 853.8282
    [cold_temperature] => 0.4
    [temperature] => 35.8816
    [user_eto] => 1431.99275172
)

Plant specific values:
Array
(
    [rain_min_irrigation] => 598
    [eto_corrected] => 1329
    [eto_adjusted_rain_min (rain_min_irrigation / eto_corrected)] => 0.44996238
)
Gray Mule’s Ears (Wyethia helenioides) | Easyscape Plant Profile

Gray Mule’s Ears

(Wyethia helenioides)

Gray Mule’s Ears (Wyethia helenioides)

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Estimated Native Range
Species Map Help

Climate Requirements for Cleburne, Texas

This Plant Your Site Plant Suitability for Your Location
• Precipitation 10" - 78" 34" Your precipitation may be too high for this plant. Too high
• High Temp. 71°F - 99°F 97°F Your summer temperatures are normal for this plant. Excellent
• Low Temp. 12°F - 43°F 33°F Your winter temperatures are normal for this plant Excellent
This plant may not grow well at your location - your precipitation is too high.

Summary

Wyethia helenioides, commonly known as Gray Mule’s Ears, is a perennial herb that is native to the chaparral and open woodlands of the California Coast Ranges, Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges, and the Sierra Nevada foothills. It typically grows to a height of 1-2 feet (0.3-0.6 meters) and spreads to a similar width. The plant is characterized by its large, basal, lance-shaped leaves that are gray-green and hairy, giving it a distinctive appearance. From late spring to early summer, it produces showy, golden-rayed flowers that resemble sunflowers and are highly attractive to pollinators.

Gray Mule’s Ears is valued for its bright, daisy-like flowers and its ability to thrive in dry, well-drained soils. It is often used in native plant gardens, wildflower meadows, and as part of restoration projects due to its low maintenance requirements and adaptability to drought conditions. In cultivation, it prefers full sun and requires minimal supplemental water once established. While generally disease-free, it can be susceptible to root rot in poorly drained soils.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

  • Plant Type: Herb
  • Height: 0.3-2 feet
  • Width: 0.5-1.25 feet
  • Growth Rate: Slow, Moderate
  • Flower Color: Yellow
  • Flowering Season: Spring, Summer
  • Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

  • Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
  • Water: Medium
  • Drainage: Medium

Common Uses

Bee Garden, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Low Maintenance

Natural Habitat

Native to the chaparral and open woodlands of the California Coast Ranges, Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges, and the Sierra Nevada foothills

Other Names

Common Names: Gray Mule’s Ears, Woolly Mule’s Ears, White Mule’s Ears

Scientific Names: Wyethia helenioides, Alarconia helenioides, Melarhiza inuloides

GBIF Accepted Name: Wyethia helenioides