Deinandra halliana
Hall's tarplant
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Deinandra halliana (Hall's tarplant) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by hollow stems and glabrous leaves distinctive.
Hall's tarplant is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native annual found in western San Joaquin Valley and south Coast Ranges in grasslands, open slopes, and sink edges with vertic clay at elevations of 300 to 1,000 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces deep yellow ray flowers 5 to 10 millimeters long in open, flat-topped clusters. Growing 1.5 to 12 decimeters tall with hollow stems that are evenly covered in stalked glands, it has an open, branching form. Its proximal leaves vary from entire to serrate, with glabrous surfaces and margins that can be scabrous or bristly. The plant produces numerous disk flowers with yellow anthers and has no significant pappus.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species; hollow stems and glabrous leaves distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Grasslands, open slopes, sink edges, vertic clay, rarely serpentine
Elevation: 300-1000 m
California counties: San Luis Obispo, San Benito, Monterey, Fresno, Kern
Bloom period
Deinandra halliana blooms Apr-May.
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 halliana native to California?
Yes. Deinandra halliana is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Deinandra halliana bloom?
Deinandra halliana blooms Apr-May.
Where in California does Deinandra halliana grow?
Deinandra halliana occurs in San Luis Obispo, San Benito, Monterey, Fresno, Kern, at elevations of 300-1000 m.
What plant family does Deinandra halliana belong to?
Deinandra halliana is in the Asteraceae family, genus Deinandra.
Is Deinandra halliana rare or endangered?
Deinandra halliana carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S3.
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.