Deinandra fasciculata
Clustered tarweed
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Deinandra fasciculata (Clustered tarweed) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by consistent 5 rays/6 discs.
Clustered tarweed is a California native annual found in southern Central Coast, western South Coast Ranges, and southwestern California in open or disturbed sites, grasslands, scrub, woodland, and vernal pools at elevations below 1,200 meters. Flowering from April to September, this plant produces deep yellow ray flowers 6 to 14 millimeters long with distinctive red to dark purple disk anthers. Growing 40 to 100 centimeters tall with stems that are coarse-hairy, it forms tight groups or pairs of flower heads in raceme-like clusters. Its proximal leaves are toothed and somewhat coarse-hairy, creating a textured appearance across the plant's structure. The flower heads feature 5 ray flowers and unique paleae arranged in a single series, with bracts that overlap at least half of the involucre.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 13 sympatric species; consistent 5 rays/6 discs is diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open or disturbed sites, grassland, scrub, woodland, vernal pools, sometimes on serpentine
Elevation: < 1200 m
California counties: San Diego, Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Francisco, Merced, Alameda
Outside California: to central Baja California
Bloom period
Deinandra fasciculata blooms Apr-Sep.
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 fasciculata native to California?
Yes. Deinandra fasciculata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Deinandra fasciculata bloom?
Deinandra fasciculata blooms Apr-Sep.
Where in California does Deinandra fasciculata grow?
Deinandra fasciculata occurs in San Diego, Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and other counties, at elevations of < 1200 m.
What plant family does Deinandra fasciculata belong to?
Deinandra fasciculata is in the Asteraceae family, genus Deinandra.
What habitat does Deinandra fasciculata grow in?
Deinandra fasciculata grows in Open or disturbed sites, grassland, scrub, woodland, vernal pools, 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.