Deinandra paniculata
Paniculate tarplant
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.2
Deinandra paniculata (Paniculate tarplant) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by short phyllaries relative to peduncles and long pappus key.
Paniculate tarplant is a California native annual found in southern coastal and transverse ranges including Santa Ynez Mountains and Peninsular Ranges in grasslands, open chaparral, and woodland areas at elevations below 1,320 meters. Flowering from May to November, this plant produces deep yellow ray flowers 3 to 7.5 millimeters long with distinctive dark purple to red anthers in open, panicle-like clusters. Growing 1 to 8 decimeters tall with bristly, coarse-hairy stems that can occasionally reach 15 decimeters, it spreads in open disturbed areas and sandy soils. Its lower leaves are pinnately lobed or toothed, sometimes with stalked glandular hairs, with basal leaves occasionally persisting in southern coastal regions. The flower heads feature 8 to 14 disk flowers with fringed pappus scales often as long as half the corolla length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 12 sympatric species; short phyllaries relative to peduncles and long pappus key
Habitat and range
Habitat: Grassland, open chaparral and woodland, disturbed areas, often in sandy soils
Elevation: < 1320 m
California counties: Orange, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Alameda, Ventura
Outside California: northern Baja California
Bloom period
Deinandra paniculata blooms May-Nov.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.2
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 paniculata native to California?
Yes. Deinandra paniculata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Deinandra paniculata bloom?
Deinandra paniculata blooms May-Nov.
Where in California does Deinandra paniculata grow?
Deinandra paniculata occurs in Orange, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Monterey, San Luis Obispo and other counties, at elevations of < 1320 m.
What plant family does Deinandra paniculata belong to?
Deinandra paniculata is in the Asteraceae family, genus Deinandra.
Is Deinandra paniculata rare or endangered?
Deinandra paniculata carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.2, state rank S4.
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.