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.

Blow wives

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Achyrachaena mollis

Last reviewed: November 2026

Blow wives (Achyrachaena mollis) is a annual forb native to CA, OR. It blooms in March, April, and May. The flowers draw small native bees and flies.

Watering reminders and freeze alerts for Blow wives, free in the app.

Toxicity unknown

Blow wives (Achyrachaena mollis) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

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

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 461 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Picture natives in your own yard

Upload a photo of your yard and Patch Vision shows a rendering of it planted with natives for your region, like Blow wives.

Try it with your yard

Browse plants for this ecoregion

Coast Range Sierra Nevada Central California Foothills and Coastal Mountains Central California Valley Southern California Mountains Northwestern Forested Mountains Mojave Basin and Range Southern California/Northern Baja Coast

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.

Growing Blow wives

Grow Blow wives in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 4 to 16 inches tall and spread 4 to 8 inches wide.

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.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

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Ready to grow Blow wives? Add it to your garden in the Pollinator Patch App to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

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