Yellow Mexican Hat

Yellow Mexican Hat (Ratibida columnifera) is a cheerful wildflower with long-blooming golden petals that droop gracefully around a tall, cone-like center. Its distinctive shape and bright color make it a standout in native meadows and pollinator gardens, where it thrives with very little care. Blooming from early summer into fall, it provides nectar and pollen to a wide array of bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, while its seeds feed small birds later in the season.

Perfectly adapted to Utah’s hot, dry summers, this plant flourishes in lean soils and open, sunny spots. Its upright habit makes it an excellent choice for naturalized plantings, xeriscapes, or mixed borders where movement and long-lasting color are desired. Tough, drought-hardy, and self-sufficient, Yellow Mexican Hat is a resilient native that brings both charm and ecological value to water-wise landscapes.