Gazania linearis
Gazania
(c) Steven Molteno, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steven Molteno · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Gazania linearis (Gazania) is a non-native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by South African genus representing distinctive southern African daisy flora now escaping cultivation.
Gazania is a naturalized perennial found in coastal bioregions including Central Coast, San Francisco Bay, Southern California, and Peninsular Ranges in disturbed coastal areas at elevations below 1,350 meters. Flowering all year, this plant produces large yellow or orange ray flowers with dark stripes, forming heads 3.5 to 8 centimeters in diameter. Growing with short, decumbent stems, it forms loose rosettes with distinctive linear to oblanceolate leaves that are dark green above and white-woolly underneath. Its leaves vary from narrow linear blades 10 to 20 centimeters long to broader oblanceolate leaves up to 5 centimeters wide, with margins that are typically entire and sometimes rolled under. The flower heads feature ray flowers with striking yellow or orange petals and disk flowers with red-orange centers, creating a vibrant display in disturbed coastal landscapes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: South African genus representing distinctive southern African daisy flora now escaping cultivation
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Escape from cultivation in coastal areas, disturbed areas
Elevation: < 1350 m
Outside California: New Mexico?, native to southern Africa
Bloom period
Gazania linearis blooms All year.
Conservation status
Cal-IPC Yes
How to tell it apart
vs Arctotheca: Gazania rays have dark basal spots; Arctotheca rays are uniformly colored without spots.; vs Dimorphotheca: Gazania has milky sap; Dimorphotheca has clear sap when stems are broken.; vs Arctotis: Gazania has dark-spotted ray bases; Arctotis rays lack dark spots.; vs Calendula: Gazania has ray and disk flowers; Calendula has only ray-like flowers (no disk).; vs Wyethia: Gazania has milky sap and garden-origin; Wyethia has clear sap and grows wild in mountains.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gazania linearis native to California?
No. Gazania linearis is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Gazania linearis bloom?
Gazania linearis blooms All year.
What plant family does Gazania linearis belong to?
Gazania linearis is in the Asteraceae family, genus Gazania.
Is Gazania linearis invasive in California?
Gazania linearis is listed by Cal-IPC with an invasiveness rating of Yes.
What habitat does Gazania linearis grow in?
Gazania linearis grows in Uncommon. Escape from cultivation in coastal areas, disturbed areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.