Eriophyllum lanatum var. achilleoides
Yarrow leaved woolly sunflower
(c) Don Loarie, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Eriophyllum lanatum var. achilleoides (Yarrow leaved woolly sunflower) is a native California subshrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by . Finely compound leaves and habitat distinctive.
Yarrow leaved woolly sunflower is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern California Coast Ranges, Cascade Range, northern Sierra Nevada foothills, San Francisco Bay Area, and southern Coast Ranges in dry, often rocky sites within chaparral and forest habitats at elevations below 1,300 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces yellow ray flowers 6 to 9 millimeters long with approximately 12 to 13 rays surrounding a yellow disk. Growing with slender stems 13 to 40 centimeters tall, it has a herbaceous to somewhat woody growth habit. Its leaves are typically 1 to 3 centimeters long, generally 1 to 2 times compound with finely divided segments. The small fruit measures 2.2 to 3 millimeters long, topped with a pappus less than 1 millimeter in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 12 sympatric species. Finely compound leaves and habitat distinctive.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, often rocky sites, chaparral, forest
Elevation: < 1300 m
Outside California: Oregon, Nevada
Bloom period
Eriophyllum lanatum var. achilleoides blooms May-Jul.
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 lanatum var. achilleoides native to California?
Yes. Eriophyllum lanatum var. achilleoides is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriophyllum lanatum var. achilleoides bloom?
Eriophyllum lanatum var. achilleoides blooms May-Jul.
What plant family does Eriophyllum lanatum var. achilleoides belong to?
Eriophyllum lanatum var. achilleoides is in the Asteraceae family, genus Eriophyllum.
What habitat does Eriophyllum lanatum var. achilleoides grow in?
Eriophyllum lanatum var. achilleoides grows in Dry, often rocky sites, chaparral, forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Eriophyllum lanatum var. arachnoideum — Common woolly sunflower
- Eriophyllum lanatum var. croceum — Common woolly sunflower
- Eriophyllum lanatum var. grandiflorum — Common woolly sunflower
- Eriophyllum lanatum var. hallii — Fort tejon woolly sunflower
- Eriophyllum lanatum var. integrifolium — Oregon sunshine
- Eriophyllum lanatum var. lanceolatum — 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.