Deinandra kelloggii
Kellogg's tarweed
(c) Cricket Raspet, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Deinandra kelloggii (Kellogg's tarweed) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by 5 rays/6 discs with open inflorescence distinctive.
Kellogg's tarweed is a California native annual found in central Sierra Nevada Foothills, San Joaquin Valley, eastern San Francisco Bay, South Coast Ranges, and southwestern California in grasslands, woodland openings, and disturbed sites at elevations up to 1,200 meters. Flowering from March to November, this plant produces deep yellow ray flowers 4 to 8 millimeters long with distinctive yellow to maroon disk flowers. Growing with bristly stems 10 to 50 centimeters tall, it spreads in open, branching clusters. Its lower leaves are pinnately lobed or toothed, covered in coarse hairs and sometimes stalked glandular structures. In southwestern populations, the plant's anthers can range from yellow to deep maroon, adding to its visual complexity.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 15 sympatric species; 5 rays/6 discs with open inflorescence distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy or clayey soils, grassland, openings in scrub or woodland, disturbed sites
Elevation: < 1200(2100) m
California counties: Fresno, Kings, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Benito, San Diego, Imperial, Tulare, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, Santa Clara, Stanislaus, Calaveras, Mariposa, Mendocino, San Bernardino, San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, Kern, Madera, Merced, Monterey, Sonoma, Solano, Colusa, Siskiyou
Outside California: northern Baja California
Bloom period
Deinandra kelloggii blooms Mar-Nov.
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 kelloggii native to California?
Yes. Deinandra kelloggii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Deinandra kelloggii bloom?
Deinandra kelloggii blooms Mar-Nov.
Where in California does Deinandra kelloggii grow?
Deinandra kelloggii occurs in Fresno, Kings, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Benito, San Diego, Imperial and other counties, at elevations of < 1200(2100) m.
What plant family does Deinandra kelloggii belong to?
Deinandra kelloggii is in the Asteraceae family, genus Deinandra.
What habitat does Deinandra kelloggii grow in?
Deinandra kelloggii grows in Sandy or clayey soils, grassland, openings in scrub or woodland, disturbed sites.
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.