For nearly 60 years, the Saints’ Daisy—a rare plant with lavender petals—had not been seen on Santa Cruz Island. The last known sighting of the flower was in 1965. This spring, however, a team of botanists and researchers, including Sean Carson from the Santa Barbara Botanical Garden and John Knapp from The Nature Conservancy, found the elusive flower once again.
The Saints’ Daisy, a member of the sunflower family, stands about a foot tall and features both purple ray flowers with long petals and bright yellow-orange disk flowers at its center. It is both rare and hard to find, with only 77 documented collections in its history.
The plant was last spotted on Santa Cruz Island, one of California’s Channel Islands, which is also one of the few known habitats for the species. Its rediscovery marks a major milestone after years of searching.
The search began in 1978 when The Nature Conservancy acquired most of Santa Cruz Island with the goal of restoring its ecosystems, which had been harmed by feral animals like pigs and sheep. These animals, introduced for ranching purposes, posed a significant threat to the island’s native plant species. Many plants, including the Saints’ Daisy, had been driven to the brink of extinction.
Over the past decade, conservationists have focused on locating around 22 species believed to have disappeared from the island. In spring 2024, Carson and his team renewed their search. Carson, familiar with the plant from his work with a colony in Lompoc, had a mental image of the Saints’ Daisy, making him hopeful despite the challenges of finding it.
On April 8, 2024—the same day as a solar eclipse—the team set out to survey the island. As they gathered to watch the eclipse, spirits were high, and the team set off on their hike, guided by old descriptions of where the flower was last seen.
Carson recalled the terrain as steep and familiar. “It just felt like the right kind of habitat for the Saints’ Daisy,” he said. His instincts proved correct. As he wandered through the shaded area, he spotted the dark green leaves of the plant peeking through the ground. When he got closer, he recognized the distinctive hair on the leaves and stems, confirming it was the Saints’ Daisy.
Excited, Carson called out to his teammates, who rushed over to celebrate the find. The moment was captured in photos and selfies, but the team was careful not to damage the precious plants. The rediscovery of the Saints’ Daisy is a rare and significant triumph for conservation efforts on Santa Cruz Island.
Related topics: