Deinandra pallida
Kern tarweed
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Deinandra pallida (Kern tarweed) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by pale yellow rays and yellow anthers distinctive.
Kern tarweed is a California native annual found in southern Sierra Nevada Foothills, Tehachapi, southern San Joaquin Valley, and southern Coast Ranges in grasslands, open scrub, and woodland habitats at elevations of 70 to 1,100 meters. Flowering from March to July, this plant produces pale yellow ray flowers 6 to 12 millimeters long in crowded, flat-topped clusters. Growing 0.9 to 10 decimeters tall with solid or hollow stems, it displays coarse-hairy leaves that are pinnately lobed or toothed. Its lower leaves are particularly distinctive, with rough hairs and occasional glandular stalks that give the plant a rugged texture. The flower heads feature 8 to 12 pale yellow ray flowers and 10 to 21 disk flowers with yellow or brownish anthers.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species; pale yellow rays and yellow anthers distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Grassland, open scrub and woodland, disturbed sites, often in +- alkaline soils
Elevation: 70-1100 m
California counties: Kern, Santa Barbara, Tulare, Fresno, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Tuolumne
Bloom period
Deinandra pallida blooms Mar-Jul.
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 pallida native to California?
Yes. Deinandra pallida is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Deinandra pallida bloom?
Deinandra pallida blooms Mar-Jul.
Where in California does Deinandra pallida grow?
Deinandra pallida occurs in Kern, Santa Barbara, Tulare, Fresno, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Tuolumne, at elevations of 70-1100 m.
What plant family does Deinandra pallida belong to?
Deinandra pallida is in the Asteraceae family, genus Deinandra.
What habitat does Deinandra pallida grow in?
Deinandra pallida grows in Grassland, open scrub and woodland, disturbed sites, often in +- alkaline soils.
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.