Crepis intermedia
Intermediate hawksbeard
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steve Matson · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Crepis intermedia (Intermediate hawksbeard) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by robust habit, variable leaf lobing, and narrow flower head bases.
Intermediate hawksbeard is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, California Ranges, northern and central Sierra Nevada, and Great Basin in dry slopes, ridges, and open forest at elevations of 800 to 3,300 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces yellow flowers in clusters of 20 to 60 heads 10 to 16 millimeters long. Growing with 2 to 6 stems up to 60 centimeters tall, it has a stout, branched stem with a swollen woody base. Its basal leaves are large, up to 40 centimeters long, deeply pinnately lobed with narrowly triangular lobes, and covered in gray woolly tomentum. The fruit is 6 to 9 millimeters long with 10 to 12 ribs and a dusky white pappus.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 20 sympatric species; distinguished by robust habit, variable leaf lobing, and narrow flower head bases
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry slopes, ridges, open forest
Elevation: 800-3300 m
Outside California: to western Canada, Wyoming, Colorado
Bloom period
Crepis intermedia blooms May-Jul.
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 intermedia native to California?
Yes. Crepis intermedia is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Crepis intermedia bloom?
Crepis intermedia blooms May-Jul.
What plant family does Crepis intermedia belong to?
Crepis intermedia is in the Asteraceae family, genus Crepis.
What habitat does Crepis intermedia grow in?
Crepis intermedia grows in dry slopes, ridges, open forest.
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.