Deinandra lobbii

Threeray tarweed

Family: Asteraceae · Type: annual · Native

Threeray tarweed is a California native annual found in grasslands, open woodlands, and sagebrush scrub across the northwestern San Joaquin Valley, San Francisco Bay Area, northern South Coast Ranges, and Modoc Plateau at elevations up to 700 meters. Flowering from May to December, this plant produces deep yellow ray flowers 3 to 5 millimeters long with distinctive three-rayed heads. Growing 0.5 to 7 decimeters tall with branching stems, it develops a panicle-like cluster of flower heads. Its lower leaves are pinnately lobed or toothed, covered in bristly and coarse hairs, with glandular surfaces that give the plant a distinctive texture. The disk flowers feature striking reddish to dark purple anthers, adding visual complexity to its delicate yellow blooms.

Habitat: Grassland, open woodland, sagebrush scrub, disturbed areas

Bloom period: May-Dec

Elevation: < 700(1800) m

Bioregions: CaRH, nw SnJV, SnFrB, n SCoR, MP (exc Wrn).

California counties: Santa Clara, Modoc, Monterey, Fresno, Lassen, San Benito, Shasta, Solano, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, San Luis Obispo

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.