Eriophyllum congdonii
Congdon's woolly sunflower
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Eriophyllum congdonii (Congdon's woolly sunflower) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by rare species (1B.2) with distinctive branching pattern and large solitary heads.
Congdon's woolly sunflower is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native annual found in central Sierra Nevada foothill woodland in Mariposa County at elevations of 500 to 1,900 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces yellow daisy-like flowers in solitary heads 5 to 8 millimeters wide with 8 to 10 ray flowers. Growing with spreading branches 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it forms a delicate, open structure. Its leaves are oblanceolate, 1 to 4 centimeters long, typically entire or with slight lobing near the tip. The fruit is small, strigose, and 2.5 to 3 millimeters long with unequal pappus scales.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 8 sympatric species; rare species (1B.2) with distinctive branching pattern and large solitary heads
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky, open, foothill woodland, yellow-pine forest
Elevation: 500-1900 m
Bloom period
Eriophyllum congdonii blooms Mar-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
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 congdonii native to California?
Yes. Eriophyllum congdonii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriophyllum congdonii bloom?
Eriophyllum congdonii blooms Mar-Jun.
What plant family does Eriophyllum congdonii belong to?
Eriophyllum congdonii is in the Asteraceae family, genus Eriophyllum.
Is Eriophyllum congdonii rare or endangered?
Eriophyllum congdonii carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.
What habitat does Eriophyllum congdonii grow in?
Eriophyllum congdonii grows in Rocky, open, foothill woodland, yellow-pine forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- 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
- Eriophyllum lanatum var. croceum — Common woolly sunflower
- Eriophyllum lanatum var. grandiflorum — Common woolly sunflower
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.