Grindelia stricta var. platyphylla
Gumplant
(c) Don Loarie, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Grindelia stricta var. platyphylla (Gumplant) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by subtending bracts and phyllary orientation.
Gumplant is a California native perennial found in coastal areas including the North Coast, Central Coast, Southern Coast, and Channel Islands along coastal bluffs and dunes at elevations below 300 meters. Flowering throughout the year, this plant produces yellow ray flowers 12 to 20 millimeters long in distinctive heads with unique phyllary tips that spread, reflex, or coil up to 360 degrees. Growing decumbent to erect with stems 10 to 100 centimeters tall, some portions becoming woody near the base, the plant forms a variable herbaceous to partially woody structure. Its leaves are generally sessile, sometimes clasping the stem, with glabrous or lightly tomentose surfaces and acute or rounded tips. The fruit is 3.5 to 5 millimeters long, contributing to its characteristic gummy, compact appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species; distinguished by subtending bracts and phyllary orientation
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal bluffs, dunes
Elevation: < 300 m
California counties: Del Norte, Humboldt, Marin, Mendocino, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, Monterey, Solano, San Luis Obispo, Ventura, Los Angeles, San Francisco
Bloom period
Grindelia stricta var. platyphylla blooms All year.
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. platyphylla native to California?
Yes. Grindelia stricta var. platyphylla is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Grindelia stricta var. platyphylla bloom?
Grindelia stricta var. platyphylla blooms All year.
Where in California does Grindelia stricta var. platyphylla grow?
Grindelia stricta var. platyphylla occurs in Del Norte, Humboldt, Marin, Mendocino, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Sonoma and other counties, at elevations of < 300 m.
What plant family does Grindelia stricta var. platyphylla belong to?
Grindelia stricta var. platyphylla is in the Asteraceae family, genus Grindelia.
What habitat does Grindelia stricta var. platyphylla grow in?
Grindelia stricta var. platyphylla grows in Coastal bluffs, dunes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Grindelia stricta var. stricta — Coastal gum plant
- Grindelia camporum — Common gumplant
- Grindelia fraxinipratensis — Ash meadows gumplant
- Grindelia hallii — San diego gumplant
- Grindelia hirsutula — Gumweed
- Grindelia hirsutula var. maritima — San Francisco gumplant
- Gutierrezia californica — California matchweed
- Gutierrezia microcephala — Sticky snakeweed
- Gutierrezia sarothrae — Matchweed
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.