Eriophyllum ambiguum
Annual woolly sunflower
(c) Tim Messick, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Eriophyllum ambiguum (Annual woolly sunflower) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by annual habit and small stature help distinguish from shrubby species.
Annual woolly sunflower is a California native annual herb found in low elevation grasslands and open areas. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces bright yellow daisy-like flowers in heads 1 to 2 centimeters wide with 6 to 10 ray flowers. Growing with decumbent to ascending stems 5 to 30 centimeters tall, it forms delicate spreading clumps. Its leaves are oblong to oblanceolate, less than 4 centimeters long, with entire or slightly lobed edges. The fruit is small, 2.2 to 3 millimeters long, with minimal to no pappus.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 13 sympatric species; annual habit and small stature help distinguish from shrubby species
How to tell it apart
vs Achillea: Eriophyllum has woolly leaves; Achillea has feathery fern-like leaves and flat-topped white/pink flower clusters.; vs Lasthenia: Eriophyllum has densely woolly leaves; Lasthenia has smooth or sparsely hairy leaves.; vs Monolopia: Eriophyllum rays fall off cleanly; Monolopia rays have a small opposite lobe at base.; vs Artemisia: Eriophyllum has yellow ray flowers; Artemisia has tiny rayless heads and aromatic silver-gray foliage.; vs Pseudognaphalium: Eriophyllum has yellow ray petals; Pseudognaphalium has white/cream rayless everlasting flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Eriophyllum ambiguum native to California?
Yes. Eriophyllum ambiguum is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Eriophyllum ambiguum belong to?
Eriophyllum ambiguum is in the Asteraceae family, genus Eriophyllum.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Eriophyllum ambiguum var. ambiguum — Beautiful woolly sunflower
- Eriophyllum ambiguum var. paleaceum — Annual woolly sunflower
- Eriophyllum confertiflorum — Golden-yarrow
- Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum — Golden yarrow
- Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. tanacetiflorum — Tansy-flowered woolly sunflower
- Eriophyllum congdonii — Congdon's woolly sunflower
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.