Agoseris apargioides var. apargioides
Coast dandelion
Photo: parent species Agoseris apargioides · no rights reserved · CC0
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Agoseris apargioides var. apargioides (Coast dandelion) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by narrow leaves and prostrate habit key.
Coast dandelion is a California native perennial found in central California Coast (from San Francisco south to Cambria) on coastal dunes and sand hills at elevations below 100 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces yellow flowers with elongated ligules 8 to 16 millimeters long that prominently exceed the flower's surrounding bracts. Growing with generally prostrate to decumbent stems, it spreads low across sandy terrain with a distinctive growth habit. Its leaves are linear to oblanceolate, ranging from 1 to 15 millimeters wide, with edges that can be entire, toothed, or lobed, and ranging from glabrous to moderately hairy with white-translucent hairs. The fruit develops as a fusiform to obconic body with straight or slightly wavy ribs that are somewhat reduced toward the base.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Co-occurs with 7 species; narrow leaves and prostrate habit key
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal dunes, sand hills
Elevation: < 100 m
Bloom period
Agoseris apargioides var. apargioides blooms Apr-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Taraxacum: Agoseris bracts graduate gradually in size; Taraxacum has dramatically smaller outer bracts and longer one-sided pappus.; vs Hypochaeris: Agoseris has completely bractless stems; Hypochaeris often has small leafy bracts partway up the stem.; vs Microseris: Agoseris pappus bristles evenly distributed; Microseris has 5-80 white scales (not plume-like bristles).; vs Uropappus: Agoseris has plume-like bristles; Uropappus has 5 large silvery scales alternating with 5 smaller ones.; vs Leontodon: Agoseris has unbranched scapes; Leontodon often has branched stems with multiple heads.
Frequently asked questions
Is Agoseris apargioides var. apargioides native to California?
Yes. Agoseris apargioides var. apargioides is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Agoseris apargioides var. apargioides bloom?
Agoseris apargioides var. apargioides blooms Apr-May.
What plant family does Agoseris apargioides var. apargioides belong to?
Agoseris apargioides var. apargioides is in the Asteraceae family, genus Agoseris.
What habitat does Agoseris apargioides var. apargioides grow in?
Agoseris apargioides var. apargioides grows in Coastal dunes, sand hills.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.