About Diplacus aurantiacus (Curtis) Jeps.
Diplacus aurantiacus (Curtis) Jeps. is a bushy evergreen shrub that grows up to 1.2 meters (4 feet) tall. It has deep green, sticky leaves that measure 3 to 7 centimeters long and up to one centimeter broad, and it produces upright vertical flowering stems. Its flowers are tubular at the base, approximately 2 centimeters long, with five broad lobes. Flower colors range across shades from white to red, with light orange being the most common shade. It is a honey plant pollinated by both bees and hummingbirds. This species can grow in many climates and thrives in a wide range of soil types, including wet, dry, sandy, and rocky soils. It is even able to grow in serpentine soil, a soil type most plants struggle to thrive in due to its unusual mineral composition. Diplacus aurantiacus is an important host plant for the larvae of the common buckeye butterfly (Junonia coenia) and the variable checkerspot (Euphydryas chalcedona), even though phenolic resin found in its leaves acts to deter larval feeding. This same resin also helps the plant retain water in dry environments. Ecologically, Diplacus aurantiacus supports multiple caterpillar species including the Variable Checkerspot, as well as hummingbirds. In cultivation, this bushy evergreen shrub tends to be short-lived. The species and its cultivars are used in water-conserving gardens, native plant gardens, and habitat gardens. In temperate zones, it is often grown under glass. In the United Kingdom, this plant has been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. It is a documented traditional Native American medicinal plant: the Miwok and Pomo Native American groups used it to treat minor health complaints including sores, burns, diarrhea, and eye irritation. These groups also used the plant's colorful flowers for decorative purposes.
