Ambrosia sp.
Ragweed, bur-sage, burrobrush, Burrobrush
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Annual · Variable; species dependent
Ambrosia sp. (Ragweed) is a non-native California annual in the Asteraceae family.
How to tell it apart
vs Artemisia: Ambrosia produces spiny burs as fruits; Artemisia has tiny dry fruits without spines and strongly aromatic foliage.; vs Atriplex: Ambrosia has flower heads in spikes producing spiny burs; Atriplex has inconspicuous flowers with papery bracts and scurfy gray foliage.; vs Baccharis: Ambrosia has both male and female flowers on the same plant; Baccharis has male and female flowers on separate plants.; vs Eriogonum: Ambrosia has greenish flower heads producing spiny burs; Eriogonum has showy clusters of white, pink, or yellow flowers with papery bracts.; vs Salvia: Ambrosia has inconspicuous greenish flowers in the Asteraceae; Salvia has showy tubular lipped flowers typical of mints.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ambrosia sp. native to California?
No. Ambrosia sp. is not native to California (recorded as variable; species dependent).
What plant family does Ambrosia sp. belong to?
Ambrosia sp. is in the Asteraceae family, genus Ambrosia.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Ambrosia trifida — Giant ragweed
- Ambrosia acanthicarpa — Annual bur-sage
- Ambrosia ambrosioides — Big bur-sage
- Ambrosia artemisiifolia — Common ragweed
- Ambrosia chamissonis — Beach bur-sage
- Ambrosia chenopodiifolia — San diego bur-sage
- Amphipappus fremontii — Chaffbush
- Amphipappus fremontii var. fremontii — Fremont's chaff bush
- Amphipappus fremontii var. spinosus — Spiny fremont's chaffbush
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.