Wedelia acapulcensis var. hispida
Creeping Oxeye
Family: Asteraceae
Semi-evergreen shrub to 3’ tall and wide. Yellow daisy flowers in warm weather. In cold climates this plant dies to the ground, but re-emerged from roots in spring.
Full sun, moderate water, hardy to 0°F. Plants may need a cut back whenever they look rough or if they go dormant.
Yellow daisy flowers which are nectar-rich and attractive to butterflies and other pollinators appear from May until frost. Larval host for the bordered patch (Chlosyne lacinia).
The genus Wedelia, is named in honor of Georg Wolfgang Wedel (1645-1721). The species acapulcensis refers to the Mexican city, Acapulco where it can be found naturally. The variety name hispida means “bristly” referring probably to the bristly nature of the foliage. Formerly known as Zexmenia hispida.
Fields & wood borders from Texas, south through Mexico and into Central America.
The variety hispida is the more northerly of the species, there is a variety from Mexico south into Central America called variety acapulcensis. The variety in the trade is the variety hispida.
On iNaturalist, this taxon is listed as its own species, Wedelia hispida
Photo by Sally and Andy Wasowski, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center