Johnny tuck
Triphysaria eriantha
Last reviewed: October 2026
Johnny tuck (Triphysaria eriantha) is a annual forb native to CA, OR. It blooms in March, April, and May. The flowers draw bees.

Toxicity unknown
Johnny tuck (Triphysaria eriantha) 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
medium
Size
4"–14" H × 6"–10" W
Bloom
Mar, Apr, May
Native to
CA, OR
Pollinators
bees
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 458 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaPicture 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 Johnny tuck.
Browse plants for this ecoregion
A small annual wildflower with finely divided leaves and soft spikes of yellow and white two-toned tubular flowers tinged with purple. Partially parasitizes the roots of neighboring grasses, growing in a low, informal patch in open grassland.
Growing Johnny tuck
Grow Johnny tuck in full sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 4 to 14 inches tall and spread 6 to 10 inches wide.
Wildlife value
Spring flowers provide nectar for small native bees during the peak grassland wildflower bloom.
Common questions
- How much sun does Johnny tuck need?
- Johnny tuck grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Johnny tuck bloom?
- Johnny tuck blooms in March, April, and May.
- Where is Johnny tuck native?
- Johnny tuck (Triphysaria eriantha) is native to CA, OR, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
- What pollinators does Johnny tuck attract?
- Johnny tuck draws bees.
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.
- 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 Johnny tuck? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
