Helianthus winteri
Winter's sunflower
(c) Chris Winchell, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Helianthus winteri (Winter's sunflower) is a native California shrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by only shrub form in genus, very limited geographic range.
Winter's sunflower is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native shrub found in southern Sierra Nevada Foothills on steep, south-facing grassy slopes and rock outcrops at elevations of 180 to 460 meters. Flowering all year, this plant produces yellow ray flowers up to 20 millimeters long surrounded by purple-edged, bristly green involucral bracts. Growing up to 4 meters tall with a thick woody taproot, it has a trunk up to 8 centimeters in diameter and young stems with a distinctive purplish-maroon color. Its alternating leaves are large and lanceolate to widely ovate, measuring 12 to 14 centimeters long with serrated margins and a base that is slightly truncate or heart-shaped. The fruit is approximately 3.5 millimeters long with dense, ascending hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; only shrub form in genus, very limited geographic range
Habitat and range
Habitat: Steep, south-facing grassy slopes, rock outcrops, road-cuts
Elevation: 180-460 m
California counties: Fresno
Bloom period
Helianthus winteri blooms All year.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
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 winteri native to California?
Yes. Helianthus winteri is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Helianthus winteri bloom?
Helianthus winteri blooms All year.
Where in California does Helianthus winteri grow?
Helianthus winteri occurs in Fresno, at elevations of 180-460 m.
What plant family does Helianthus winteri belong to?
Helianthus winteri is in the Asteraceae family, genus Helianthus.
Is Helianthus winteri rare or endangered?
Helianthus winteri carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2?.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Helianthus annuus — Common sunflower
- Helianthus bolanderi — Bolander's sunflower
- Helianthus californicus — California sunflower
- Helianthus ciliaris — Blueweed
- Helianthus cusickii — Cusick's sunflower
- Helianthus gracilentus — Slender sunflower
- Helichrysum petiolare — Licorice plant
- Helichrysum sp.
- Heliomeris multiflora var. nevadensis — Nevada goldeneye
- Heliomeris sp. — Golden-eye
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.