Centromadia fitchii
Spikeweed
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Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Centromadia fitchii (Spikeweed) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by glandular hairs, anther color, and pappus scales.
Spikeweed is a California native perennial found in the eastern Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, Cascade Range, northern Sierra Nevada foothills, Great Valley, San Francisco Bay Area, southern Coast Ranges, and northern Channel Islands in grasslands, alkaline flats, vernal pools, and woodlands at elevations below 1,000 meters. Flowering from May to November, this plant produces yellow flowers with dark purple to red disk anthers in compact heads. Growing with branching stems 20 to 50 centimeters tall, it develops dense clusters of soft to coarse hairy stems with yellow, brown, or black glandular hairs. Its leaves are deeply hairy with stalked glands, creating a distinctively textured appearance across the plant. The fruit develops with a pappus of 8 to 12 narrow, oblanceolate scales that aid in seed dispersal.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species; key features are glandular hairs, anther color, and pappus scales
Habitat and range
Habitat: Grassland, +- alkaline flats, vernal pools, woodland, disturbed sites, sometimes on serpentine
Elevation: < 1000 m
California counties: Glenn, Santa Barbara, Tehama, Calaveras, Colusa, Kern, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, Yolo, Alameda, Amador, Butte, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Fresno, Lake, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, Santa Clara, Shasta, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Sutter, Yuba, San Diego, Humboldt, San Benito, Tulare, Los Angeles, Santa Cruz, Orange
Outside California: southwestern Oregon
Bloom period
Centromadia fitchii blooms May-Nov.
Frequently asked questions
Is Centromadia fitchii native to California?
Yes. Centromadia fitchii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Centromadia fitchii bloom?
Centromadia fitchii blooms May-Nov.
Where in California does Centromadia fitchii grow?
Centromadia fitchii occurs in Glenn, Santa Barbara, Tehama, Calaveras, Colusa, Kern, Stanislaus, Tuolumne and other counties, at elevations of < 1000 m.
What plant family does Centromadia fitchii belong to?
Centromadia fitchii is in the Asteraceae family, genus Centromadia.
What habitat does Centromadia fitchii grow in?
Centromadia fitchii grows in Grassland, +- alkaline flats, vernal pools, woodland, disturbed sites, sometimes on serpentine.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.