Townsend Daisies (7)

Townsend Daisies are very similar to both Daisies and Asters but are easily recognized by their low, cushion-like growth pattern and their large flowers compared to the size of the plant. They also have phyllaries which are of different lengths, the outer shorter than the inner. See also Tall Townsend Daisy.

	Showy Easter Daisy Townsendia grandiflora Family: Sunflower (Asteraceae) AKA: Showy Townsendia, Largeflower Townsend Daisy Photo taken on: April 25, 2007 Location: Almont Triangle, GV, CO Life Zones: Plains to foothills Habitat: Dry meadows, slopes Grows to 8" high. Flowers are up to 2" across. Leaves are fleshy, hairy and to 3" long. Flora of North America reference.
	Hooker's Townsend Daisy Townsendia hookeri Family: Sunflower (Asteraceae) AKA: Easter Daisy, Stemless Daisy Photo taken on: April 25, 2009 Location: Wet Mountains, Eastern CO Life Zones: Plains to foothills Habitat: Dry meadows, slopes Grows close to the ground. Flowers are 1" across. Leaves are narrow, grayish and hairy. Found primarily on the Eastern Slope. Flora of North America reference.
	Stemless Townsend Daisy Townsendia exscapa Family: Sunflower (Asteraceae) AKA: Photo taken on: April 29, 2010 Location: White Rock, NM Life Zones: Plains and foothills Habitat: Dry, gravelly slopes Low growing clump with slightly hairy narrow grayish leaves. Flowers are white to pinkish and 1" across. Distinguished from T. hookeri by a tuft of hairs on the phyllaries. Flora of North America reference.
	Annual Townsend Daisy Townsendia annua Family: Sunflower (Asteraceae) AKA: Photo taken on: April 21, 2014 Location: Abiquiu, NM Life Zones: Plains and foothills Habitat: Hot, dry, sandy soils Grows only 1-4" high, sometimes sprawling, sometimes in masses. Flower heads are about ½" across compared to the other Townsendia. Leaves are hairy. Flora of North America reference.
	Fendler's Townsend Daisy Townsendia fendleri Family: Sunflower (Asteraceae) AKA: Photo taken on: July 30, 2014 Location: Abiquiu, NM Life Zones: Plains and foothills Habitat: Sandy, rocky areas, washes Grows to 6" with erect or leaning stems. Leaves are narrow compared to T. annua which has spatulate to oblong leaves. Flowers are at the tip of the stem, often with leaves extending past the flowers. Phyllaries are in 4-5 series compared to T. annua which has 3. Flower size is similar with a pink to lavender tint underneath. Flora of North America reference.
	Hoary Townsend Daisy Townsendia incana Family: Sunflower (Asteraceae) AKA: Silvery Townsendia Photo taken on: April 9, 2015 Location: Abiquiu Lake, NM Life Zones: Plains and foothills Habitat: Sandy, rocky, pinyon-juniper woodlands Grows less than 3" high with densely hairy stems and leaves. Leaves are spatula to lance shaped. Flowers have as few as 8 petals but up to 34 and flower heads are about 1" across. Very cute. Flora of North America reference.
	Common Townsend Daisy Townsendia leptotes Family: Sunflower (Asteraceae) AKA: Slender-leaf Townsendia Photo taken on: April 25, 2022 Location: North rim of Cañon de Cobre, Carson NF, NM Life Zones: Foothills to alpine Habitat: Sandy slopes, rocky ridges Grows in mounds with long, hairy, narrow leaves surpassing the flowers. Flowers have as few as 13 petals but can have up to 34. Flower heads are about 1" across and are white to pinkish. Found primarily on the Western Slope. Flora of North America reference.

White/Cream Single Flowers