When does scarce fiddleneck bloom?

Amsinckia lycopsoides blooms from May through July, producing small tubular yellow-orange flowers arranged along coiled, fiddleneck-shaped stems.

What pollinators visit scarce fiddleneck?

Bees and beetles are the main visitors to Amsinckia lycopsoides, drawn to its clustered yellow-orange flowers during the late spring and summer bloom period.

How much water does scarce fiddleneck need?

This forb prefers low water and does well in dry, well-drained soils, making it suited to arid grassland and rangeland settings.

What growing conditions suit scarce fiddleneck best?

Scarce fiddleneck grows best in full sun with lean, dry soil, conditions typical of open grasslands, sagebrush flats, and disturbed roadsides.

Is Scarce Fiddleneck toxic to livestock?

Scarce Fiddleneck is listed as toxic to grazing livestock such as cattle, sheep, and goats (severe severity) by the USDA PLANTS Database. This is separate from pet (dog and cat) toxicity.

Is Scarce Fiddleneck HOA-friendly?

Scarce Fiddleneck takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Scarce Fiddleneck

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Amsinckia lycopsoides

Last reviewed: August 2026

Amsinckia lycopsoides, scarce fiddleneck, is a low-water forb that blooms yellow-orange from May through July in full sun, thriving in dry grasslands and open, disturbed ground across the western United States.

Scarce Fiddleneck (Amsinckia lycopsoides) is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs or cats (aspca.org (opens in new tab), last reviewed 2026-05-21). If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Scarce Fiddleneck is listed as toxic to grazing livestock (cattle, sheep, and goats) at a severe level by the USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab). This is a livestock indicator and is separate from pet toxicity.

Light

full sun

Water

low

Size

12"–24" H × 6"–12" W

Bloom

May, Jun, Jul

Native to

CA, ID, MT, OR and 2 more states

Pollinators

bees, beetles

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Puget Lowland Marine West Coast Forest Sierra Nevada Central California Foothills and Coastal Mountains Central California Valley Northwestern Forested Mountains North American Deserts

Amsinckia lycopsoides is a small annual wildflower that produces clusters of tiny yellow or orange flowers from May through July. This low-water plant grows 12-24 inches tall with a compact spread, thriving in full sun conditions. As an annual, it completes its entire life cycle in one growing season.

Growing Scarce Fiddleneck

Grow Scarce Fiddleneck in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 12 to 24 inches tall and spread 6 to 12 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Scarce Fiddleneck takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

Annual growth pattern creates inconsistent appearance
Can look weedy or sparse when establishing
May self-seed unpredictably

Wildlife value

This plant provides nectar and pollen for bees and beetles during its spring and summer blooming period. The flowers offer an important food source for pollinators during the active growing months.

Common questions

When does scarce fiddleneck bloom?: Amsinckia lycopsoides blooms from May through July, producing small tubular yellow-orange flowers arranged along coiled, fiddleneck-shaped stems.
What pollinators visit scarce fiddleneck?: Bees and beetles are the main visitors to Amsinckia lycopsoides, drawn to its clustered yellow-orange flowers during the late spring and summer bloom period.
How much water does scarce fiddleneck need?: This forb prefers low water and does well in dry, well-drained soils, making it suited to arid grassland and rangeland settings.
What growing conditions suit scarce fiddleneck best?: Scarce fiddleneck grows best in full sun with lean, dry soil, conditions typical of open grasslands, sagebrush flats, and disturbed roadsides.
Is Scarce Fiddleneck toxic to dogs?: Scarce Fiddleneck is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs (aspca.org).
Is Scarce Fiddleneck toxic to cats?: Scarce Fiddleneck is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for cats (aspca.org).
Is Scarce Fiddleneck toxic to livestock?: Scarce Fiddleneck is listed as toxic to grazing livestock such as cattle, sheep, and goats (severe severity) by the USDA PLANTS Database. This is separate from pet (dog and cat) toxicity.
Is Scarce Fiddleneck HOA-friendly?: Scarce Fiddleneck 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 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

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