Thickspiked Owl's Clover Plant Care
Orthocarpus pachystachyus A.Gray
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Orthocarpus pachystachyus is a rare species of flowering plant in the broomrape family known by the common names Shasta owl's-clover and Shasta orthocarpus. It is endemic to central Siskiyou County, California, where it is so rarely seen it was thought to be extinct until 1996, when eight individuals were located.
Full sun to partial shade
At a glance
How do you care for Thickspiked Owl's Clover?
Thickspiked Owl's Clover grows best in full sun to partial shade.
Where Is the Thickspiked Owl's Clover Native To?
What Is the Thickspiked Owl's Clover?
Thickspiked Owl's Clover (Orthocarpus pachystachyus) belongs to the Orobanchaceae family within the Orthocarpus genus. Thickspiked Owl's Clover is native to central Siskiyou County, California.
Thickspiked Owl's Clover displays a low rosette, clumping growth habit, reaching up to tall with a spread of approximately . Thickspiked Owl's Clover produces showy spikes of tubular flowers in various colors.
What Light Does the Thickspiked Owl's Clover Need?
Thickspiked Owl's Clover thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Thickspiked Owl's Clover?
Well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Thickspiked Owl's Clover to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Do You Repot a Thickspiked Owl's Clover?
Repot every 2-3 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Thickspiked Owl's Clover?
Thickspiked Owl's Clover can be propagated through seeds, division of rhizomes. Similar propagation techniques also apply to showy fiddleneck plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Thickspiked Owl's Clover Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Thickspiked Owl's Clover, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Thickspiked Owl's Clover?
Thickspiked Owl's Clover is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, whiteflies. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
Keep exploring plants
Thickspiked Owl's Clover is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Orthocarpus genus — compare its care with other Orthocarpus species on PlantoScan.
Orthocarpus is part of the Orobanchaceae plant family — browse all Orobanchaceae genera and species.
Thickspiked Owl's Clover thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Orthocarpus pachystachyus A.Gray, family Orobanchaceae (first published in Syn. Fl. N. Amer. 2(1): 300 (1878)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Thickspiked Owl's Clover, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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