Helianthella californica var. shastensis
Shasta helianthella
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ken-ichi Ueda · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Helianthella californica var. shastensis (Shasta helianthella) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by 2 sympatric varieties; clearly differentiated by narrow leaves and compact stature.
Shasta helianthella is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges and Cascade Range in open conifer forest and chaparral at elevations of 400 to 2,600 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces yellow flowers in solitary heads approximately 1 to 1.5 centimeters in diameter. Growing with slender stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it has a delicate, sparse branching habit. Its leaves are distinctively narrow, ranging from linear to lance-linear, measuring 3 to 6 millimeters wide, with only a few cauline leaves along the stem. The fruit features small awns or narrow scales about 1 millimeter long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric varieties; clearly differentiated by narrow leaves and compact stature
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open conifer forest, chaparral
Elevation: 400-2600 m
Bloom period
Helianthella californica var. shastensis blooms Apr-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Wyethia: Both basal and stem leaves prominent vs. mostly large basal leaves with smaller stem leaves in Wyethia.; vs Helianthus: Consistently perennial in mountains vs. often annual in disturbed lowlands.; vs Arnica: Leaves mostly opposite up stem vs. mostly alternate in Arnica.; vs Eriophyllum: Large sunflower heads and broad leaves vs. small heads and narrow/divided leaves in woolly sunflower.; vs Helenium: Large basal leaf rosette present vs. basal leaves absent in Helenium.
Frequently asked questions
Is Helianthella californica var. shastensis native to California?
Yes. Helianthella californica var. shastensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Helianthella californica var. shastensis bloom?
Helianthella californica var. shastensis blooms Apr-Jul.
What plant family does Helianthella californica var. shastensis belong to?
Helianthella californica var. shastensis is in the Asteraceae family, genus Helianthella.
What habitat does Helianthella californica var. shastensis grow in?
Helianthella californica var. shastensis grows in Open conifer forest, chaparral.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Helianthella castanea — Diablo helianthella
- Helianthella sp.
- Helianthella californica — California helianthella
- Helianthella californica var. californica — California helianthella
- Helianthella californica var. nevadensis — California helianthella
- Helianthus annuus — Common sunflower
- Helianthus bolanderi — Bolander's sunflower
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.