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Blow wives

Achyrachaena mollis

Last reviewed: August 2026

Blow wives (Achyrachaena mollis)
Photo: (c) Vincent Weber, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Vincent Weber

Light

full sun

Water

low

Size

4"–16" H × 4"–8" W

Bloom

Mar, Apr, May

Native to

CA, OR

Pollinators

small native bees, flies

Before you buy

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A small, soft-hairy spring annual with small yellow daisy flowers that dry into papery, straw-colored seed heads. Common in grassy openings, it completes its life cycle quickly and fades by early summer.

Wildlife value

Its early spring flowers are a minor nectar source for small native bees and flies.

Common questions

How much sun does Blow wives need?
Blow wives grows best in full sun conditions.
When does Blow wives bloom?
Blow wives blooms in March, April, and May.
Where is Blow wives native?
Blow wives (Achyrachaena mollis) is native to CA, OR, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
What pollinators does Blow wives attract?
Blow wives draws small native bees and flies.

Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

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