Galinsoga parviflora var. parviflora
Few flowered galinsoga
Cyan Fox (via Wikimedia Commons) · CC0
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Annual · Not Native
Galinsoga parviflora var. parviflora (Few flowered galinsoga) is a non-native California annual in the Asteraceae family, recognized by South American genus representing tropical American flora naturalized in California's disturbed habitats.
Few flowered galinsoga is a naturalized annual found in central Sierra Nevada, central Coast Ranges, southwestern California, and southern eastern Sierra Nevada regions in moist soil and disturbed ground at elevations up to 1,000 meters. Flowering all year, this plant produces small white flowers in clusters 2 to 6 millimeters in diameter with ray flowers typically numbering around 5. Growing 10 to 60 centimeters tall with simple or much-branched stems that are glabrous or sparsely soft-hairy, it can spread readily in disturbed areas. Its leaves are roughly ovate, 1 to 11 centimeters long, with acute tips and finely toothed or coarsely serrated edges. The fruit is small, 1.2 to 2.5 millimeters long, with ray fruit bearing 5 to 8 unequal scales and disk fruit with 15 to 20 obtuse to acute scales.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: South American genus representing tropical American flora naturalized in California's disturbed habitats
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist soil, disturbed ground
Elevation: generally <= 1000 m
California counties: Inyo, Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Alameda, Santa Cruz
Outside California: worldwide, native to South America
Bloom period
Galinsoga parviflora var. parviflora blooms All year.
How to tell it apart
vs Achillea: Achillea has finely divided leaves in alternate arrangement; Galinsoga has simple oval leaves in opposite pairs.; vs Eclipta: Eclipta has alternate leaves and extremely narrow thread-like rays; Galinsoga has opposite leaves and broader rays.; vs Rigiopappus: Rigiopappus has narrow linear leaves arranged alternately; Galinsoga has broad oval leaves in opposite pairs.; vs Cosmos: Cosmos has finely dissected feathery leaves; Galinsoga has simple oval leaves.; vs Chamaemelum: Chamaemelum has finely divided aromatic leaves; Galinsoga has simple opposite leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Galinsoga parviflora var. parviflora native to California?
No. Galinsoga parviflora var. parviflora is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Galinsoga parviflora var. parviflora bloom?
Galinsoga parviflora var. parviflora blooms All year.
Where in California does Galinsoga parviflora var. parviflora grow?
Galinsoga parviflora var. parviflora occurs in Inyo, Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Alameda, Santa Cruz, at elevations of generally <= 1000 m.
What plant family does Galinsoga parviflora var. parviflora belong to?
Galinsoga parviflora var. parviflora is in the Asteraceae family, genus Galinsoga.
What habitat does Galinsoga parviflora var. parviflora grow in?
Galinsoga parviflora var. parviflora grows in Moist soil, disturbed ground.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.