Helianthus californicus
California sunflower
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Helianthus californicus (California sunflower) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by perennial habit, smooth glaucous stems, wet habitats.
California sunflower is a California native perennial found in southern North Coast Ranges, central Sierra Nevada Forest, southern Sierra Nevada Forest (Piute Mountains), central Sierra Nevada High Country, Sacramento Valley, northwestern San Joaquin Valley, northern Central Western, and Southwestern regions in springs, marshes, streambanks, and canyons at elevations below 1,850 meters. Flowering from July to October, this plant produces yellow ray flowers with yellow disk centers in heads 10 to 25 millimeters wide, featuring 12 to 21 distinctive ray flowers. Growing 15 to 35 decimeters tall with thick, woody roots and a short rhizome, it develops glaucous stems that are grooved and glabrous. Its alternate leaves are lanceolate, 10 to 20 centimeters long, with wedge-shaped bases and acute tips, featuring rough-hairy undersides that are distinctively gland-dotted. The fruit is approximately 4.5 to 5 millimeters long with small pappus scales.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species; distinguished by perennial habit, smooth glaucous stems, wet habitats
Habitat and range
Habitat: Springs, marshes, streambanks, canyons
Elevation: < 1850 m
Outside California: northern Baja California
Bloom period
Helianthus californicus blooms Jul-Oct.
How to tell it apart
vs Encelia: Helianthus is herbaceous with soft stems; Encelia is a woody shrub with persistent branches.; vs Bahiopsis: Helianthus has soft herbaceous stems; Bahiopsis is woody-based with persistent woody stems.; vs Wyethia: Helianthus has smaller disk flowers and readily falling seed scales; Wyethia has very large 8-12mm disk flowers.; vs Rudbeckia: Helianthus has a flat or rounded yellow center; Rudbeckia has a tall dark cone-shaped center.; vs Venegasia: Helianthus dies back to ground level; Venegasia is a large evergreen shrub in shaded canyons.
Frequently asked questions
Is Helianthus californicus native to California?
Yes. Helianthus californicus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Helianthus californicus bloom?
Helianthus californicus blooms Jul-Oct.
What plant family does Helianthus californicus belong to?
Helianthus californicus is in the Asteraceae family, genus Helianthus.
What habitat does Helianthus californicus grow in?
Helianthus californicus grows in Springs, marshes, streambanks, canyons.
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.