Eriophyllum ambiguum var. paleaceum
Annual woolly sunflower
Photo: parent species Eriophyllum ambiguum · (c) Tim Messick, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Eriophyllum ambiguum var. paleaceum (Annual woolly sunflower) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by leaf division pattern is key distinguishing feature from var. ambiguum.
Annual woolly sunflower is a California native annual found in southern Sierra Nevada foothills, Tehachapi, southern Sierra Nevada, and desert regions in desert scrub or woodland at elevations of 100 to 2,800 meters. Flowering from January to June, this plant produces yellow flowers in small clusters with involucres 5 to 7 millimeters wide. Growing with delicate stems reaching up to 30 centimeters tall, it forms loose, open clusters of blossoms. Its leaves are distinctive, being either entire or occasionally having 3 lobes near the leaf tip, with a soft, woolly texture characteristic of sunflower relatives. The plant's receptacle occasionally features 1 to 6 small, chaff-like scales, adding subtle complexity to its floral structure.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 13 sympatric species; leaf division pattern is key distinguishing feature from var. ambiguum
Habitat and range
Habitat: Desert scrub or woodland
Elevation: 100-2800 m
Outside California: southern Nevada
Bloom period
Eriophyllum ambiguum var. paleaceum blooms Jan-Jun.
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 var. paleaceum native to California?
Yes. Eriophyllum ambiguum var. paleaceum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriophyllum ambiguum var. paleaceum bloom?
Eriophyllum ambiguum var. paleaceum blooms Jan-Jun.
What plant family does Eriophyllum ambiguum var. paleaceum belong to?
Eriophyllum ambiguum var. paleaceum is in the Asteraceae family, genus Eriophyllum.
What habitat does Eriophyllum ambiguum var. paleaceum grow in?
Eriophyllum ambiguum var. paleaceum grows in Desert scrub or woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Eriophyllum confertiflorum — Golden-yarrow
- Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum — Golden yarrow
- Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. tanacetiflorum — Tansy-flowered woolly sunflower
- Eriophyllum congdonii — Congdon's woolly sunflower
- Eriophyllum jepsonii — Jepson's woolly sunflower
- Eriophyllum lanatum — Common 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.