Encelia californica

Bush sunflower

Family: Asteraceae · Type: shrub · Native

Bush sunflower is a California native shrub found in southern Coastal California, Channel Islands, western Transverse Ranges, and western Peninsular Ranges in coastal scrub habitats at elevations below 600 meters. Flowering from February to June, this plant produces yellow ray flowers 15 to 35 millimeters long with brown-purple disk centers in large radiant heads. Growing 50 to 150 centimeters tall with many slender branches emerging from its base, it develops smooth or roughened bark on older stems. Its scattered leaves are diamond-shaped or narrowly ovate, 3 to 6 centimeters long, appearing green and slightly bristly or glabrous. The plant forms compact clusters with distinctive yellow sunflower-like blooms characteristic of its coastal and scrub environments.

Habitat: Coastal scrub

Bloom period: Feb-Jun

Elevation: < 600 m

Bioregions: s CCo, SCo, ChI, WTR, w PR

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.