Madia-oil-plant
Madia sativa
Last reviewed: August 2026
Madia sativa is a low-water forb that blooms from June through September, thriving in full sun along grasslands and coastal slopes of the Pacific Northwest.
Toxicity unknown
Madia-oil-plant (Madia sativa) 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
12"–48" H × 6"–24" W
Bloom
Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Native to
CA, OR, WA
Pollinators
bees, beetles
Before you buy
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Madia sativa is an annual wildflower that grows 1-4 feet tall with small yellow daisy-like flowers that bloom from summer through early fall. This drought-tolerant plant thrives in full sun and requires minimal watering once established. As an annual, it will need to be replanted each year or allowed to self-seed.
Growing Madia-oil-plant
Grow Madia-oil-plant in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 12 to 48 inches tall and spread 6 to 24 inches wide. Expect moderate maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Madia-oil-plant takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: moderate. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Can appear weedy and unkempt
- Annual growth habit creates gaps in plantings
Wildlife value
This plant provides nectar for bees and beetles during its extended blooming period from June through September. The seeds also offer food for birds later in the season.
Common questions
- When does Madia sativa bloom?
- Madia sativa typically flowers from June through September, with small yellow blooms appearing through the summer months.
- What growing conditions does Madia sativa need?
- This forb does best in full sun with low water once established, making it suited to dry, open sites.
- What pollinators visit Madia sativa?
- Bees and beetles are the main visitors to Madia sativa flowers, drawn to the plant during its summer bloom period.
- Is Madia sativa evergreen?
- No, Madia sativa is an annual forb and dies back after setting seed, so it does not retain leaves year round.
- Is Madia-oil-plant HOA-friendly?
- Madia-oil-plant takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
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 Madia-oil-plant? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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