Gutierrezia californica

California matchweed

Family: Asteraceae · Type: shrub · Native

California matchweed is a California native shrub found in northern and central coastal regions, San Joaquin Valley, coastal and southern California, Transverse Ranges, and Peninsular Ranges in grassland, arid woodland, and shrubland habitats at elevations below 1,600 meters. Flowering from July to November, this plant produces yellow flowers in small heads with 4 to 13 ray flowers. Growing 20 to 100 centimeters tall with sprawling to erect stems that can be slightly reddish, it forms a loose, open shrub structure. Its leaves are narrow and linear, typical of drought-adapted plants in arid landscapes. The fruit is small, measuring 1 to 2.8 millimeters long, and contributes to the plant's delicate appearance.

Habitat: Grassland, arid woodland and shrubland, sometimes on serpentine

Bloom period: Jul-Nov

Elevation: < 1600 m

Bioregions: NCoRI, SnJV, CW, SCo, WTR, SnGb, PR

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.