Cowpen Daisy
Verbesina encelioides
Last reviewed: August 2026
Cowpen Daisy is a fast growing annual forb with bright yellow daisy flowers that bloom from June through November in hot, sunny fields, roadsides and disturbed ground.
Toxicity unknown
Cowpen Daisy (Verbesina encelioides) 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.
The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Cowpen Daisy as toxic to livestock.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
12"–60" H × 12"–36" W
Bloom
Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov
Native to
AL, AR, AZ, CA and 23 more states
Pollinators
butterflies, bees, moths, hummingbirds, nectar insects
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 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
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Cowpen Daisy is a cheerful annual wildflower that produces abundant bright yellow, daisy-like blooms from summer through late fall. This hardy native grows 1-5 feet tall and thrives in hot, dry conditions with minimal care. It readily self-seeds and can spread to form naturalized colonies in suitable locations.
Growing Cowpen Daisy
Grow Cowpen Daisy in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 12 to 60 inches tall and spread 12 to 36 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Cowpen Daisy is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 2 out of 5.
Works well in: mid zone, backyard only.
- May flop without support
- Best in less formal zones
Wildlife value
This plant is a pollinator powerhouse, attracting butterflies, bees, moths, and other beneficial insects throughout its long blooming season. The abundant nectar and late-season flowers provide crucial food sources when many other plants have finished blooming.
Common questions
- How much sun does Cowpen Daisy need?
- Cowpen Daisy grows best in full sun and can tolerate part sun, though flowering is heaviest with at least six hours of direct light each day.
- How much water does Cowpen Daisy need?
- Cowpen Daisy is drought tolerant once established and does well in low water conditions, thriving in dry, sandy or disturbed soils with little supplemental irrigation.
- When does Cowpen Daisy bloom?
- Cowpen Daisy blooms over a long season, typically from June through November, with flowering concentrated in the hottest summer and early fall months.
- What pollinators visit Cowpen Daisy?
- Butterflies, bees, moths and hummingbirds visit Cowpen Daisy for nectar, making it a useful late season food source in dry, open habitats.
- Is Cowpen Daisy toxic to livestock?
- The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Cowpen Daisy as toxic to livestock.
- Is Cowpen Daisy HOA-friendly?
- Cowpen Daisy is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). 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.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Cowpen Daisy? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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