desertpeony
Acourtia D.Don
A genus overview; characteristics vary between its species.
Acourtia is known as desertpeony, but its flowers belong to the daisy family. The genus has a history of reconsideration: for roughly a century its species were often placed in Perezia. Acourtia was reestablished in 1973 for leafy-stemmed North American plants, with the more nearly leafless flowering-stem group added later. Kew Plants of the World Online: Acourtia D.DonFlora of North America: Acourtia
Botanical name
Kew accepts Acourtia D.Don as a genus in Asteraceae. This profile retains genus-level scope. Kew Plants of the World Online: Acourtia D.Don
Recognizing the plant
The individual florets are two-lipped: one lip is larger and strap-like, while the smaller lip divides into two often-curled lobes. Gathered into heads, the flowers can be pink, lavender or white in the North American flora. Plants are perennial, with foliage concentrated at the base, arranged along leafy stems, or both. Leaf blades range from thin and papery to thick and leathery, with entire, toothed or divided margins. Heads may stand alone or gather into branched arrays. Mature fruits are usually ribbed and carry a crown of tan or white bristles. Flora of North America: Acourtia
Native range
The genus is native from the southwestern and south-central United States through Mexico into Central America, reaching Honduras. Kew Plants of the World Online: Acourtia D.Don
Botanical sources
Reviewed 2026-10-11. Seasonal development varies with location and growing conditions.