Native to much of the western US, this is a cold-hardy biennial semi-shrub that lives its first year of life as a spreading rosette of heavily lobed, velcro-texture leaves. In its second year it grows anywhere from 2-5 feet tall, branching heavily and producing at the end of each branch one to three night- to morning-blooming flowers that can be nearly 6 inches across and are brilliantly lemon yellow, with a spray of filiform stigmas sticking out of the middle. These flowers are followed by odd cylindrical pods with the same velcro-like texture as the leaves, and each contain numerous flat blackish seeds. Sowing a handful of seeds two different years can ensure establishment of blooming generations every year.
Packets contain approx. 30+ seeds, and require a 2-3 month cold stratification to germinate.