Grindelia stricta var. angustifolia
Marsh gumplant
(c) Don Loarie, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Grindelia stricta var. angustifolia (Marsh gumplant) is a native California subshrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by subshrub habit and erect phyllaries.
Marsh gumplant is a California native shrub found in the San Francisco Bay bioregion in tidal wetlands at elevations below 10 meters. Flowering from May to December, this plant produces yellow flowers in heads with 16 to 56 ray flowers measuring 12 to 17 millimeters long. Growing 1 to 2 meters tall with erect, woody stems that become woody in the lower one-third to half of their length, it has an upright, robust structure. Its leaves are glabrous, generally tapered to the base with acute tips, creating a distinctive architectural form. The fruit is 5 to 7 millimeters long, contributing to the plant's compact and structured appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species; distinguished by subshrub habit and erect phyllaries
Habitat and range
Habitat: Tidal wetlands
Elevation: < 10 m
California counties: Alameda, San Mateo, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Solano, Sonoma, Napa
Bloom period
Grindelia stricta var. angustifolia blooms May-Dec.
How to tell it apart
vs Heterotheca: Grindelia has sticky gummy bracts; Heterotheca has dry, non-sticky bracts and spreading hairs on stems.; vs Agoseris: Grindelia has ray and disc flowers; Agoseris has only strap-shaped ligulate flowers (dandelion-like).; vs Erigeron: Grindelia has gummy sticky bracts; Erigeron has dry bracts and typically 50+ very narrow rays.; vs Solidago: Grindelia has large sticky-bracted heads; Solidago has tiny non-sticky heads in dense branched clusters.; vs Deinandra: Grindelia bracts curl backward and are gummy; Deinandra has spine-tipped bracts and is a tarweed.
Frequently asked questions
Is Grindelia stricta var. angustifolia native to California?
Yes. Grindelia stricta var. angustifolia is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Grindelia stricta var. angustifolia bloom?
Grindelia stricta var. angustifolia blooms May-Dec.
Where in California does Grindelia stricta var. angustifolia grow?
Grindelia stricta var. angustifolia occurs in Alameda, San Mateo, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Solano and other counties, at elevations of < 10 m.
What plant family does Grindelia stricta var. angustifolia belong to?
Grindelia stricta var. angustifolia is in the Asteraceae family, genus Grindelia.
What habitat does Grindelia stricta var. angustifolia grow in?
Grindelia stricta var. angustifolia grows in Tidal wetlands.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Grindelia stricta var. platyphylla — Gumplant
- Grindelia stricta var. stricta — Coastal gum plant
- Grindelia camporum — Common gumplant
- Grindelia fraxinipratensis — Ash meadows gumplant
- Grindelia hallii — San diego gumplant
- Grindelia hirsutula — Gumweed
- Gutierrezia californica — California matchweed
- Gutierrezia microcephala — Sticky snakeweed
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.