Agoseris retrorsa
Spear leaved agoseris
(c) Andrey Zharkikh, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Agoseris retrorsa (Spear leaved agoseris) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by backward-pointing lobes and very long beaks diagnostic.
Spear leaved agoseris is a California native perennial found in the foothills and inner coast ranges in scrub, oak woodland, and conifer forest at elevations of 900 to 1,800 meters. Flowering from April to August, this plant produces yellow flowers in heads 20 to 30 millimeters wide, with rosy-purple phyllary bases that add distinctive coloration. Growing 10 to 65 centimeters tall with erect stems and purple-tinged petioles, it develops a robust herbaceous form. Its leaves are distinctively long and linear to lance-elliptic, typically 10 to 30 centimeters long with 7 to 9 pairs of lance-linear lobes angled toward the leaf base, covered in white-opaque hairs. The fruit develops a slender beak 15 to 25 millimeters long, characteristic of this agoseris species.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Co-occurs with 16 species; backward-pointing lobes and very long beaks diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Scrub, oak woodland, conifer forest
Elevation: generally 900-1800 m
Outside California: to Washington, Utah, Arizona, Baja California
Bloom period
Agoseris retrorsa blooms Apr-Aug.
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 retrorsa native to California?
Yes. Agoseris retrorsa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Agoseris retrorsa bloom?
Agoseris retrorsa blooms Apr-Aug.
What plant family does Agoseris retrorsa belong to?
Agoseris retrorsa is in the Asteraceae family, genus Agoseris.
What habitat does Agoseris retrorsa grow in?
Agoseris retrorsa grows in Scrub, oak woodland, conifer forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Agoseris sp.
- Agoseris apargioides — Coast dandelion
- Agoseris apargioides var. apargioides — Coast dandelion
- Agoseris apargioides var. eastwoodiae — Beach dandelion
- Agoseris apargioides var. maritima — Woolly goat chicory
- Agoseris aurantiaca var. aurantiaca — Orange agoseris
- Aldama purisimae — La purisima aldama
- Aldama sp.
- Almutaster pauciflorus — Alkali marsh aster
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · 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.