Eastwoodia elegans
Eastwoodia
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Family: Asteraceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Eastwoodia elegans (Eastwoodia) is a native California shrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by Endemic genus to California and Baja California, representing a unique evolutionary lineage within Asteraceae.
Eastwoodia is a California native shrub found in southern Sierra Nevada Foothills, Tehachapi, southern San Joaquin Valley, southeastern San Francisco Bay, southern Coast Ranges, and Western Transverse Ranges in arid hillsides, brushy slopes, and juniper woodland at elevations of 60 to 1,300 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces yellow flowers in small, spheric heads with green or whitish phyllaries. Growing as a rounded shrub up to 1 meter tall with yellow to tan new growth and gray-white bark that shreds with age, it develops an elegant, compact form. Its leaves are narrow and linear, alternately arranged and less than 4 centimeters long, with a delicate, entire margin. The fruit is small, narrowly obconic, and covered in fine hairs, topped with lance-linear scales that are longer than the fruit itself.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Endemic genus to California and Baja California, representing a unique evolutionary lineage within Asteraceae
Habitat and range
Habitat: Banks, arid hillsides, brushy slopes, juniper woodland
Elevation: 60-1300 m
Bloom period
Eastwoodia elegans blooms Apr-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Acamptopappus: Eastwoodia has narrow flat leaves; Acamptopappus has short, thick spine-tipped leaves.; vs Helichrysum: Eastwoodia has narrow flat green leaves; Helichrysum has rounded silvery-woolly leaves.; vs Bebbia: Eastwoodia has entire to few-toothed leaves; Bebbia has rough-textured leaves with gland-dots.; vs Crupina: Eastwoodia is a shrub with simple narrow leaves; Crupina is an annual with pinnately lobed leaves.; vs Bidens: Eastwoodia is a shrub; Bidens is an herb with opposite compound or toothed leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Eastwoodia elegans native to California?
Yes. Eastwoodia elegans is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eastwoodia elegans bloom?
Eastwoodia elegans blooms Apr-Jul.
What plant family does Eastwoodia elegans belong to?
Eastwoodia elegans is in the Asteraceae family, genus Eastwoodia.
What habitat does Eastwoodia elegans grow in?
Eastwoodia elegans grows in Banks, arid hillsides, brushy slopes, juniper woodland.
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.