Eriophyllum lanatum var. hallii
Fort tejon woolly sunflower, Fort Tejon Woolly Sunflower
(c) Justin, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Justin · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1
Eriophyllum lanatum var. hallii (Fort tejon woolly sunflower) is a native California subshrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by rare variety (1B.1) with distinctive opposite leaf arrangement.
Fort tejon woolly sunflower is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native perennial found in southern Tehachapi and southeastern Sierra Madre Mountains in dry woodland sites at elevations of 1,200 to 1,500 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces yellow ray flowers 10 to 13 millimeters long surrounding a small central disk. Growing with slender stems 15 to 30 centimeters tall, it develops a herbaceous perennial structure with thin, delicate branching. Its leaves are primarily opposite near the base, featuring pinnately lobed ovate blades 2.5 to 5 centimeters long with a soft, thin texture. The fruit is small, measuring 4 to 5 millimeters in length, with delicate seed structures typical of sunflower relatives.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species; rare variety (1B.1) with distinctive opposite leaf arrangement
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry sites, woodland
Elevation: 1200-1500 m
Bloom period
Eriophyllum lanatum var. hallii blooms Jun-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1
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. hallii native to California?
Yes. Eriophyllum lanatum var. hallii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriophyllum lanatum var. hallii bloom?
Eriophyllum lanatum var. hallii blooms Jun-Jul.
What plant family does Eriophyllum lanatum var. hallii belong to?
Eriophyllum lanatum var. hallii is in the Asteraceae family, genus Eriophyllum.
Is Eriophyllum lanatum var. hallii rare or endangered?
Eriophyllum lanatum var. hallii carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S1.
What habitat does Eriophyllum lanatum var. hallii grow in?
Eriophyllum lanatum var. hallii grows in dry sites, woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Eriophyllum lanatum var. integrifolium — Oregon sunshine
- Eriophyllum lanatum var. lanceolatum — Common woolly sunflower
- Eriophyllum lanatum var. obovatum — Southern sierra woolly sunflower
- Eriophyllum lanosum — White easter bonnets
- Eriophyllum latilobum — San mateo woolly sunflower
- Eriophyllum mohavense — Barstow 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.