Deinandra floribunda
Tecate tarplant
(c) Sula Vanderplank, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Deinandra floribunda (Tecate tarplant) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by bisexual disc flowers and maroon pappus distinctive.
Tecate tarplant is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native annual found in southern Peninsular Ranges in moist openings of chaparral, streambeds, and disturbed sites at elevations of 70 to 1,200 meters. Flowering from August to November, this plant produces deep yellow ray flowers 4 to 7 millimeters long with distinctive maroon-flecked disk flower centers. Growing 30 to 100 centimeters tall with soft-hairy stems that have short side branches forming narrow raceme-like clusters, it develops an open, branching structure. Its lower leaves are soft-hairy with stalked glands, sometimes entire or lightly toothed, varying in shape along the plant's height. The flower heads feature 13 to 20 yellow ray flowers surrounded by 24 to 31 disk flowers with reddish to dark purple anthers.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; bisexual disc flowers and maroon pappus distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist openings in chaparral, streambeds, disturbed sites
Elevation: 70-1200 m
Outside California: northern Baja California
Bloom period
Deinandra floribunda blooms Aug-Nov.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
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 floribunda native to California?
Yes. Deinandra floribunda is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Deinandra floribunda bloom?
Deinandra floribunda blooms Aug-Nov.
What plant family does Deinandra floribunda belong to?
Deinandra floribunda is in the Asteraceae family, genus Deinandra.
Is Deinandra floribunda rare or endangered?
Deinandra floribunda carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.
What habitat does Deinandra floribunda grow in?
Deinandra floribunda grows in Moist openings in chaparral, streambeds, disturbed sites.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.