Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum
Golden yarrow
Photo: parent species Eriophyllum confertiflorum · Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum (Golden yarrow) is a native California shrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by . Shrubby habit is clearly diagnostic.
Golden yarrow is a California native shrub found in the North Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada, Central Western California, and southwestern California, occurring in many dry habitats at elevations below 3,000 meters. Flowering from April to August, this plant produces yellow flowers in dense clusters with 10 to 35 disk flowers and occasionally without ray flowers. Growing with a persistently tomentose (woolly) habit and reaching moderate shrub size, it develops a distinctive dense growth pattern. Its leaves are covered in a soft, woolly texture, contributing to the plant's overall grayish-green appearance. The fruit is small, measuring 2 to 3 millimeters long, with 5 to 14 approximately equal pappus scales.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 17 sympatric species. Shrubby habit is clearly diagnostic.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Many dry habitats
Elevation: < 3000 m
California counties: Calaveras, San Luis Obispo, San Diego, San Bernardino, Kern, Riverside, Fresno, Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Tulare, Ventura, Marin, Madera, Monterey, Tuolumne, Santa Cruz, Contra Costa, Merced, Mariposa, San Francisco, Stanislaus, San Benito, Alameda, San Mateo, Inyo, El Dorado, Solano, Napa, Shasta, Sonoma, Kings
Bloom period
Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum blooms Apr-Aug.
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 confertiflorum var. confertiflorum native to California?
Yes. Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum bloom?
Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum blooms Apr-Aug.
Where in California does Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum grow?
Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum occurs in Calaveras, San Luis Obispo, San Diego, San Bernardino, Kern, Riverside, Fresno, Imperial and other counties, at elevations of < 3000 m.
What plant family does Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum belong to?
Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum is in the Asteraceae family, genus Eriophyllum.
What habitat does Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum grow in?
Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum grows in Many dry habitats.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- 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
- Eriophyllum lanatum var. achilleoides — Yarrow leaved woolly sunflower
- Eriophyllum lanatum var. arachnoideum — 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.