Tidy tips is the common name for a group of flowering plants in the Layia genus of the Sunflower Family. Many species of tidy tips grow only in California, but the star of this song, known as Layia glandulosa, also grows in several states surrounding California. Although we know that the Layia genus is named after a botanist by the name of George Tradescant Lay (1799-1845), there isn't a lot of information about the origin of this plant's common name. Without a doubt it sounds potentially inappropriate, but clearly the name is not actually offensive, although you might want to be careful who you say it around!

Tidy Tips (White Layia) Information Page