Pronounciation: Ra-fi-NES-qui-a knee-o-mex-i-KAY-na

Hardiness zones:
Sunset Depends on use (arid regions only)
USDA Depends on use (arid regions only)

Landscape Use: Southwestern desert wild flower gardens, local native habitat restoration, color accent, xeriscape low water gardens winter and spring color accent.

Form & Character: Compact annual, showy, clean, innocent, arid, delicate.

Growth Habit: Evergreen, herbaceous annual, clumping, somewhat sparsely foliated to 20-inches tall with nearly equal spread.

Foliage/Texture: Small to medium sized (depending on water availability), glaucous to gray or green leaves, somewhat pinntified, stems produce a milky latex sap; medium fine texture.

Flowers & Fruits: Perfect white ray flowers with slight yellow centers, flowers 1- to 2-inches wide, borne on short terminal stalks, flower sepals an emerging petals sometimes show pink before full anthesis; fruits inconspicuous.

Seasonal Color: Early spring flower color in lower central Arizona.

Temperature: Desert chicory thrives in the 40^o to 100^oF temperature range.

Light: Full sun

Soil: Best in alkaline, light to gravelly soils that are fast draining.

Watering: Only light supplemental water needed during abnormally dry winters.

Pruning: None, allow to reseed in late spring and summer if reseeded is desired.

Propagation: Seed sown lightly in fall.

Disease and Pests: None

Additional comments: Desert chicory is a wonderful, small white-flowering annual for desert gardens and dry landscapes. It is not very attractive before bloom; in fact most people will think it's a weed. But then it blooms....and WOW!!

Taxonomic tidbit: The genus Rafinesquia is named after the eccentric 19th century French naturalist Constantine Samuel Rafinesque.