Crepis acuminata
Long leaved hawk's beard
(c) James H. Thomas, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Crepis acuminata (Long leaved hawk's beard) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by large deeply lobed leaves and high elevation habitat.
Long leaved hawk's beard is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, high Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, Tehachapi Mountains, Transverse Ranges, and Great Basin in open rocky hillsides, ridges, and grassy flats at elevations of 1,000 to 3,300 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces pale yellow flowers in dense compound flat-topped clusters with 30 to 70 heads. Growing with 2 to 7 decimeter tall erect stems that are branched near the middle and covered in soft gray tomentose hair, it emerges from a deep woody taproot. Its distinctive leaves are large, 12 to 40 centimeters long, deeply pinnately lobed with narrow acute-triangular lobes, giving the plant a soft gray-green appearance. The fruit is 6 to 9 millimeters long, pale yellow-brown with 12 ribs and a white pappus.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 21 sympatric species; distinguished by large deeply lobed leaves and high elevation habitat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open rocky hillsides, ridges, grassy flats
Elevation: 1000-3300 m
Outside California: to Washington, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico
Bloom period
Crepis acuminata blooms May-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Hypochaeris: Hypochaeris has mostly leafless stems with tiny bracts; Crepis has well-developed leaves up the stem.; vs Taraxacum: Taraxacum has all leaves basal with leafless stems; Crepis has leaves ascending the branched stem.; vs Agoseris: Agoseris has leafless flower stems from basal rosettes; Crepis has leafy branched stems.; vs Sonchus: Sonchus has clasping stem leaves with spiny margins; Crepis leaves are typically not clasping or spiny.; vs Helminthotheca: Helminthotheca has bristly leaves and bracts; Crepis typically lacks the dense bristly covering.
Frequently asked questions
Is Crepis acuminata native to California?
Yes. Crepis acuminata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Crepis acuminata bloom?
Crepis acuminata blooms May-Aug.
What plant family does Crepis acuminata belong to?
Crepis acuminata is in the Asteraceae family, genus Crepis.
What habitat does Crepis acuminata grow in?
Crepis acuminata grows in Open rocky hillsides, ridges, grassy flats.
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.