Crepis bursifolia
Italian hawksbeard
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Family: Asteraceae · Type: Subshrub · Not Native
Crepis bursifolia (Italian hawksbeard) is a non-native California subshrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by very low elevation coastal habitat and beaked fruits.
Italian hawksbeard is a naturalized perennial found in northern Coast Ranges and San Francisco Bay Area in lawn and disturbed urban places at elevations below 100 meters. Flowering from April to September, this plant produces pale yellow flowers in small clusters with 30 to 60 individual blooms. Growing with flexible stems 5 to 35 centimeters tall that arch or spread decumbently and branch cymosely, it emerges with multiple stems from a stout taproot. Its basal leaves are oblanceolate and pinnately divided, featuring lanceolate lateral lobes with a larger terminal lobe, while upper stem leaves become progressively smaller and more linear. The fruit is pale brown and fusiform, with a beak nearly twice the length of its body and ten distinct ribs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species; distinguished by very low elevation coastal habitat and beaked fruits
Habitat and range
Habitat: Lawn weed, disturbed urban places
Elevation: < 100 m
Outside California: native to southern Europe
Bloom period
Crepis bursifolia blooms Apr-Sep.
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 bursifolia native to California?
No. Crepis bursifolia is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Crepis bursifolia bloom?
Crepis bursifolia blooms Apr-Sep.
What plant family does Crepis bursifolia belong to?
Crepis bursifolia is in the Asteraceae family, genus Crepis.
What habitat does Crepis bursifolia grow in?
Crepis bursifolia grows in Lawn weed, disturbed urban places.
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.