Diplacus aurantiacus (Curtis) Jeps.

Scientific Name and Growth Form

Diplacus aurantiacus (Curtis) Jeps. is a bushy evergreen shrub that grows up to 1.2 meters (4 feet) tall.

Leaf and Stem Characteristics

It has deep green, sticky leaves that measure 3 to 7 centimeters long and up to one centimeter broad, and it produces upright vertical flowering stems.

Flower Structure

Its flowers are tubular at the base, approximately 2 centimeters long, with five broad lobes.

Flower Coloration

Flower colors range across shades from white to red, with light orange being the most common shade.

Pollination

It is a honey plant pollinated by both bees and hummingbirds.

Soil Tolerance

This species can grow in many climates and thrives in a wide range of soil types, including wet, dry, sandy, and rocky soils. It is even able to grow in serpentine soil, a soil type most plants struggle to thrive in due to its unusual mineral composition.

Host Plant Status

Diplacus aurantiacus is an important host plant for the larvae of the common buckeye butterfly (Junonia coenia) and the variable checkerspot (Euphydryas chalcedona), even though phenolic resin found in its leaves acts to deter larval feeding.

Leaf Resin Function

This same resin also helps the plant retain water in dry environments.

Ecological Role

Ecologically, Diplacus aurantiacus supports multiple caterpillar species including the Variable Checkerspot, as well as hummingbirds.

Cultivation Lifespan

In cultivation, this bushy evergreen shrub tends to be short-lived.

Horticultural Uses

The species and its cultivars are used in water-conserving gardens, native plant gardens, and habitat gardens.

Cultivation in Temperate Zones

In temperate zones, it is often grown under glass.

Horticultural Award

In the United Kingdom, this plant has been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Traditional Medicinal Use

It is a documented traditional Native American medicinal plant: the Miwok and Pomo Native American groups used it to treat minor health complaints including sores, burns, diarrhea, and eye irritation.

Traditional Decorative Use

These groups also used the plant's colorful flowers for decorative purposes.