Dysphania chilensis
(c) Álvaro Parra Valdivia, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Chenopodiaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Dysphania chilensis is a non-native California herb in the Chenopodiaceae family, recognized by habitat, elevation, and hair characteristics.
Chilean goosefoot is a naturalized perennial found in northern California Coast Ranges, northern Sierra Nevada foothills, Sacramento Valley, and San Francisco Bay Area in disturbed areas and streambeds at elevations below 500 meters. Flowering from August to September, this plant produces small green-white flowers in dense terminal and axillary spikes. Growing 40 to 60 centimeters tall with glandular stems covered in long, soft, wavy hairs, it develops a distinctive branching structure. Its lanceolate leaves are 20 to 90 millimeters long with straight, widely spaced teeth and an acuminate tip, densely covered in glandular surfaces. The tiny fruits are approximately 0.8 millimeters in diameter with a glandular wall that encloses and protects the seed.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; distinguished by habitat, elevation, and hair characteristics
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas, streambeds
Elevation: < 500 m
Outside California: Oregon, native to southern South America
Bloom period
Dysphania chilensis blooms Aug-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Artemisia: Dysphania has sticky glandular hairs; Artemisia has fine silky or woolly hairs.; vs Amaranthus: Dysphania is sticky-glandular; Amaranthus is smooth with dense flower spikes.; vs Erigeron: Dysphania has tiny greenish clustered flowers; Erigeron has obvious ray flowers.; vs Baccharis: Dysphania is herbaceous annual; Baccharis is woody shrub.; vs Ambrosia: Dysphania has sticky leaves; Ambrosia has divided leaves without sticky glands.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dysphania chilensis native to California?
No. Dysphania chilensis is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Dysphania chilensis bloom?
Dysphania chilensis blooms Aug-Sep.
What plant family does Dysphania chilensis belong to?
Dysphania chilensis is in the Chenopodiaceae family, genus Dysphania.
What habitat does Dysphania chilensis grow in?
Dysphania chilensis grows in Disturbed areas, streambeds.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.