Ehrendorferia chrysantha
Golden eardrops
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Papaveraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Ehrendorferia chrysantha (Golden eardrops) is a native California herb in the Papaveraceae family.
Golden eardrops is a California native perennial found in northwestern California, the Sierra Nevada, central western, and southwestern California regions on dry slopes, burned areas, and disturbed sites at elevations below 2,300 meters. Flowering from April to September, this plant produces golden yellow flowers in multi-flowered clusters. Growing with erect stems 50 to 160 centimeters tall, it develops an intricate branching structure. Its leaves are elaborately divided, with 2 to 3 levels of pinnate dissection spanning 15 to 30 centimeters, creating a delicate, feathery appearance. The plant produces distinctive elongated fruits 15 to 25 millimeters long, adding architectural interest to its overall form.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; flower color and elevation range appear to be key differentiators
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry slopes, burns, disturbed areas
Elevation: < 2300 m
California counties: San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside, Kern, Los Angeles, Monterey, Lake, Amador, Napa, Tulare, Contra Costa, Calaveras, Stanislaus, Colusa, Santa Barbara, Merced, Glenn, San Luis Obispo, Mendocino, Ventura, Inyo, Orange, Santa Clara, Mariposa, Fresno, Yolo, Sonoma
Outside California: northern Baja California
Bloom period
Ehrendorferia chrysantha blooms Apr-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Anigozanthos: Ehrendorferia has delicate dissected leaves; Anigozanthos has sword-like grass leaves.; vs Jacobaea: Ehrendorferia has hanging eardrop flowers; Jacobaea has yellow daisy flowers in flat clusters.; vs Foeniculum: Ehrendorferia has pendant flowers; Foeniculum has yellow umbels and smells like licorice.; vs Dicentra: Ehrendorferia has leafy stems; Dicentra leaves all come from the base.; vs Eschscholzia: Ehrendorferia has hanging pouched flowers; Eschscholzia has open poppy flowers facing up.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ehrendorferia chrysantha native to California?
Yes. Ehrendorferia chrysantha is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ehrendorferia chrysantha bloom?
Ehrendorferia chrysantha blooms Apr-Sep.
Where in California does Ehrendorferia chrysantha grow?
Ehrendorferia chrysantha occurs in San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside, Kern, Los Angeles, Monterey, Lake, Amador and other counties, at elevations of < 2300 m.
What plant family does Ehrendorferia chrysantha belong to?
Ehrendorferia chrysantha is in the Papaveraceae family, genus Ehrendorferia.
What habitat does Ehrendorferia chrysantha grow in?
Ehrendorferia chrysantha grows in dry slopes, burns, disturbed areas.
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.