The
Kachina Daisy
is a member of the sunflower family and is native to the Colorado Plateau. The plant is found only in small isolated populations in alcoves and seeps in canyon walls.
Hanging gardens provide ideal habitat for the daisies due to the perennially moist soil and the low amount of solar radiation received. Growth is also favored by saline soils and high amounts of soil phosphorus. Stems from the plant can reach up to 2 dm in length, and have either a white or pink yellow cone flower. Kachina daisies flower once in the spring and again in late summer. Interestingly the plant has a low percentage of
seed set. Low seed set is attributed to high abortion rates of developing seeds and low rates of fertilization. Because of isolated populations and the low seed set of the daisy, the plant’s
status is listed as critical.
Click on the images below to see larger pictures from their original web sites.
