Deinandra clementina
Island tarplant
(c) Adam J. Searcy, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Deinandra clementina (Island tarplant) is a native California shrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by shrub habit is distinctive.
Island tarplant is a rare (CNPS 4.3) California native shrub found in northern Channel Islands including Anacapa and Santa Cruz islands in coastal scrub and salt marsh edges at elevations below 200 meters. Flowering from March to December, this plant produces deep yellow ray flowers 4.5 to 7 millimeters long with distinctive crowded, flat-topped flower clusters. Growing as a subshrub 15 to 80 centimeters tall with woolly tufts in some leaf axils, it has branching stems with variable hairiness. Its leaves are long-soft hairy, often coarse or scabrous, with proximal leaves that may be toothed or entire and frequently stalked-glandular. The flower heads feature ray flowers in deep yellow and disk flowers with reddish to dark purple anthers, creating a vibrant coastal display.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; shrub habit is distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal scrub, open sites, salt marsh edges
Elevation: < 200 m
California counties: Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Ventura
Bloom period
Deinandra clementina blooms Mar-Dec.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
How to tell it apart
vs Hemizonia: Deinandra rays pure yellow; Hemizonia rays often purple-veined beneath.; vs Holocarpha: Deinandra stalk bracts lack pit glands; Holocarpha has distinctive pit-gland tips.; vs Madia: Deinandra ray fruits with beaks; Madia ray fruits enclosed by phyllaries, different appearance.; vs Eriophyllum: Deinandra is resinous/sticky; Eriophyllum is woolly-hairy, not sticky.; vs Layia: Deinandra lacks ray pappus scales; Layia has prominent white/tan pappus bristles on ray flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Deinandra clementina native to California?
Yes. Deinandra clementina is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Deinandra clementina bloom?
Deinandra clementina blooms Mar-Dec.
Where in California does Deinandra clementina grow?
Deinandra clementina occurs in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Ventura, at elevations of < 200 m.
What plant family does Deinandra clementina belong to?
Deinandra clementina is in the Asteraceae family, genus Deinandra.
Is Deinandra clementina rare or endangered?
Deinandra clementina carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S4.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.