Eriophyllum lanatum var. arachnoideum
Common woolly sunflower
(c) Don Loarie, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Eriophyllum lanatum var. arachnoideum (Common woolly sunflower) is a native California subshrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by . Coastal habitat and thin diamond-shaped leaves diagnostic.
Common woolly sunflower is a California native perennial found in northern coastal California bioregions including North Coast, Central Coast, and San Francisco Bay Area in ocean bluffs, mixed-evergreen forests, and moist places at elevations below 400 meters. Flowering from April to August, this plant produces golden-yellow ray flowers 8 to 10 millimeters long in distinctive heads with 12 to 13 rays. Growing with slender stems 15 to 40 centimeters tall, occasionally producing stolons that allow it to spread. Its leaves are diamond-shaped, 2 to 5 centimeters long, with proximal leaves having 3 to 5 sharp lobes and woolly undersides that give the plant its characteristic texture. The plant produces small fruits 2 to 4 millimeters long, typically without a prominent pappus.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species. Coastal habitat and thin diamond-shaped leaves diagnostic.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Ocean bluffs, +- moist places, often in mixed-evergreen or redwood forest
Elevation: < 400 m
Bloom period
Eriophyllum lanatum var. arachnoideum 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 lanatum var. arachnoideum native to California?
Yes. Eriophyllum lanatum var. arachnoideum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriophyllum lanatum var. arachnoideum bloom?
Eriophyllum lanatum var. arachnoideum blooms Apr-Aug.
What plant family does Eriophyllum lanatum var. arachnoideum belong to?
Eriophyllum lanatum var. arachnoideum is in the Asteraceae family, genus Eriophyllum.
What habitat does Eriophyllum lanatum var. arachnoideum grow in?
Eriophyllum lanatum var. arachnoideum grows in Ocean bluffs, +- moist places, often in mixed-evergreen or redwood forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- 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
- Eriophyllum lanatum var. obovatum — Southern sierra 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.