Heteranthemis viscidihirta

Sand chrysanthemum

Family: Asteraceae · Type: annual · Not Native

Sand chrysanthemum is a naturalized annual found in the Central Coast bioregion near coastal sandy soils at elevations below 100 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces radiant yellow ray flowers 2 to 2.5 centimeters long alongside yellow disk flowers in distinctive clusters. Growing with erect, glandular stems 20 to 80 centimeters tall that are slightly sticky and few-branched, it has a scattered branching habit. Its leaves are alternately arranged, with lower leaves 4 to 6 centimeters long and oblanceolate, coarsely pinnately lobed and toothed, while upper leaves are shorter, oblong, and clasping. The fruit develops with triangular, winged structures tipped with spine-like projections.

Habitat: Uncommon. Sandy soil near coast, disturbed sites

Bloom period: (Jan)Mar-Jun(Oct)

Elevation: < 100 m

Bioregions: CCo

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