Flaveria trinervia
Clustered yellow tops
(c) Kym Nicolson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Kym Nicolson · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Flaveria trinervia (Clustered yellow tops) is a non-native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by Tropical American genus with this species representing a recent introduction from southeastern US/South America.
Clustered yellow tops is a naturalized annual found in southern California coastal areas in moist, disturbed places at elevations below 300 meters. Flowering from September to December, this plant produces creamy yellow flowers in tiny dense clusters at the stem's branch points. Growing with erect stems 15 to 100 centimeters tall and often rounded in overall shape, it develops lanceolate to oblanceolate leaves that frequently fuse at their bases around the stem. Its leaves measure 3 to 15 centimeters long, with acute to obtuse tips and serrated or dentate margins. The plant bears small head-like flower clusters with involucres less than 1 millimeter in diameter and typically produces 0 to 1 ray flowers.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Tropical American genus with this species representing a recent introduction from southeastern US/South America
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist soil in disturbed places, cultivated areas
Elevation: < 300 m
Outside California: native Arizona to southeastern United States, South America
Bloom period
Flaveria trinervia blooms Sep-Dec.
How to tell it apart
vs Artemisia: Flaveria has smooth, hairless leaves and tiny yellow flowers; Artemisia has aromatic gray-hairy leaves and dull greenish flowers.; vs Hecastocleis: Flaveria is herbaceous with smooth leaves; Hecastocleis is a spiny desert shrub with persistent spine-tipped branches.; vs Echinops: Flaveria has tiny button flowers in flat clusters; Echinops has large spherical blue flower heads.; vs Lasthenia: Flaveria has nearly invisible petals (<1mm); Lasthenia has showy yellow ray petals several mm long.; vs Pectis: Flaveria has parallel-veined leaves; Pectis has narrow leaves with bristle margins and strong lemon scent.
Frequently asked questions
Is Flaveria trinervia native to California?
No. Flaveria trinervia is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Flaveria trinervia bloom?
Flaveria trinervia blooms Sep-Dec.
What plant family does Flaveria trinervia belong to?
Flaveria trinervia is in the Asteraceae family, genus Flaveria.
What habitat does Flaveria trinervia grow in?
Flaveria trinervia grows in Moist soil in disturbed places, cultivated areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.