Flower profile
Silverleaf sunray
Enceliopsis argophylla
Silverleaf sunray (Enceliopsis argophylla) is a flowering plant in the Asteraceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly March–April across the U.S.
Silverleaf sunray is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Nevada it's most often seen in bloom in March–April.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Nevada
Quick look
Enceliopsis argophylla, commonly known as the silverleaf sunray, is a North American species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. Other common names include nakedstem sunray and naked-stemmed daisy. It is native to the southwestern United States: Arizona, Nevada, and Utah, and can be seen a short distance east of Las Vegas, Nevada.
- It belongs to the Asteraceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 3 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to Nevada. NatureServe
- In Nevada, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–April. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 650 research-grade sightings of it in Nevada, ranking #52 among the 132 flowers on our Nevada list. iNaturalist
When does it bloom?
In Nevada, most flowering sightings come in March–April.
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- G3 Vulnerable worldwide. NatureServe
- Nevada
- Not listed Not on Nevada fully protected plants, critically endangered (NAC 527.010). NatureServe: S2, imperiled in Nevada. NAC 527.010
- Rare elsewhere
- Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: AZ (S2), UT (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Please don't pick or dig this flower: NatureServe ranks it S2 in Nevada. NatureServe
Can you eat it?
None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.
It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records silverleaf sunray in 3 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Arizona, Nevada, Utah.
Nevada counties with USDA records: Clark.
Names, range and relatives
Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Tithonia argophylla.
County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 3 counties across 3 states; the most are in Arizona (1), Nevada (1), Utah (1).
More from the Asteraceae family (212 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Common yarrow, Goldenrods, White snakeroot, Sunflowers, Chicory, Black-eyed Susan, Bull thistle, Common dandelion.
More Nevada flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile ENAR.
- iNaturalist, Enceliopsis argophylla: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Enceliopsis argophylla (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Nevada: Nevada fully protected plants, critically endangered (NAC 527.010).
- Nevada: Nevada noxious weeds (NAC 555.010).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Enceliopsis argophylla (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
- Photo: Bobby McCabe via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.