Gamochaeta stagnalis
(c) James C. Davis, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Annual · Not Native
Gamochaeta stagnalis is a non-native California annual in the Asteraceae family, recognized by southern CA range, moist habitat, and interrupted clusters.
Gamochaeta stagnalis is a naturalized annual found in southern California coastal and peninsula regions in disturbed, often moist areas at elevations below 300 meters. Flowering from March to April, this plant produces whitish flowers with purple-tipped corollas in small head clusters 8 to 12 millimeters wide. Growing with erect to decumbent stems 2.5 to 20 centimeters tall, it is densely covered in cobwebby-like tomentose hairs. Its leaves are oblanceolate to oblong-oblanceolate, 1 to 2.5 centimeters long, with both surfaces loosely tomentose and gradually becoming less hairy with age. The small heads are subtended by leaf-like bracts, with involucre phyllaries arranged in 3 to 4 series and inner phyllaries often appearing purple and white.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; key features are southern CA range, moist habitat, and interrupted clusters
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas, often moist
Elevation: < 300 m
California counties: San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange
Outside California: Arizona, New Mexico, northwestern and central Mexico
Bloom period
Gamochaeta stagnalis blooms Mar-Apr.
How to tell it apart
vs Pseudognaphalium: Gamochaeta has tight spike-like flower clusters; Pseudognaphalium has open, branched clusters spreading at the stem tips.; vs Gnaphalium: Gamochaeta forms erect spikes of densely clustered heads; Gnaphalium has prostrate stems with looser, sessile flower clusters.; vs Logfia: Gamochaeta has visible flower heads in narrow spikes; Logfia has heads completely hidden within dense woolly leaf clusters.; vs Stachys: Gamochaeta has spike-like clusters of papery flower heads; Stachys has whorls of tubular lipped mint flowers on square stems.; vs Corethrogyne: Gamochaeta has tiny woolly heads in tight spikes without ray petals; Corethrogyne has obvious white or purple ray petals around each head.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gamochaeta stagnalis native to California?
No. Gamochaeta stagnalis is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Gamochaeta stagnalis bloom?
Gamochaeta stagnalis blooms Mar-Apr.
Where in California does Gamochaeta stagnalis grow?
Gamochaeta stagnalis occurs in San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, at elevations of < 300 m.
What plant family does Gamochaeta stagnalis belong to?
Gamochaeta stagnalis is in the Asteraceae family, genus Gamochaeta.
What habitat does Gamochaeta stagnalis grow in?
Gamochaeta stagnalis grows in Disturbed areas, often moist.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Gamochaeta ustulata — Featherweed
- Gamochaeta argyrinea
- Gamochaeta calviceps — Narrowleaf purple everlasting
- Gamochaeta coarctata — Gray everlasting
- Gamochaeta pensylvanica — Pennsylvania everlasting
- Gamochaeta sp. — Cudweed
- Gazania linearis — Gazania
- Gazania sp. — Treasure flower
- Geraea canescens — Desert-sunflower
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-06
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.