Encelia farinosa is a desert dweller from southern California. However, I uncovered another common name for the plant: Incensio. Apparently, missionaries would collect the sap from this shrub to use in place of expensive resin incense which would have been exceedingly difficult to import to Spanish-colonized California.

The plant has bright, sunflower-like flowers in late Winter and early Summer, and hybridizes readily with its green doppelganger, E. californica. Unlike California Sunflower, though, Brittlebush is sensitive to overwatering and heavy soils. Dry clay works if watered infrequently, and does well in abusive heat. A good compliment to White Sage, since its foliage is a very similar color.