Oregon sunshine is a widespread and highly variable perennial in the aster family. It’s usually easy to identify by its silvery leaves with spidery white hairs and cheerful yellow daisy-like flowers. Found across a wide area in the western states and British Columbia, Oregon sunshine has 10 recognized plant species, numerous natural hybrids, and a chromosomal soup of diploids and tetraploids.
This free-spirited burst of genetics certainly inspired the 1967 Cream song “Sunshine of Your Love.” We often encounter Oregon sunshine as small prostrate mats in arid conditions in western Washington. Its favorite habitats include the alpine zone of the Olympic Mountains and the sea-level bluffs at Deception Pass Bridge on Whidbey Island. The latter is a safety hazard; instead of looking down the road as we drive, we crane our necks to see the scattered plants glinting with leaves or flowers on the rocky edges.
This upright species is an excellent plant for the rock garden, which demands good drainage and very dry conditions. However, the variety 'Takilma Gold' is a typical Oregon Sunshine Cone Nova. This magnificent bloomer from southern Oregon was introduced by botanist Sean Hogan, who happily enjoys a little bit of sunlight. 'Takilma Gold' is a mega-hardy variety that is very tolerant of the moist, rich soil common to cultivated gardens. In such conditions, it will produce an impressive wide mound of silver-green leaves, which are almost covered with larger than usual golden yellow flowers. We prefer to grow it in less ostentatious, dry conditions because of its improved appearance and appearance, but we may be an exception in that regard. Oregon Sunshine is the perfect plant because we could all use a little more sunshine in our lives. And going bigger is always better, so go with 'Takilma Gold.'
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