Heterotheca sessiliflora subsp. bolanderi
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Family: Asteraceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Heterotheca sessiliflora subsp. bolanderi is a native California subshrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by coastal habitat, woolly base, flat green leaves, and few heads.
Boland's goldenaster is a California native perennial found in northern coastal California bioregions including central Coast Ranges, northern Coast, and San Francisco Bay area in coastal dunes, headlands, and grassy slopes at elevations below 200 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces yellow flowers in heads with distinctive disk flowers. Growing with sparsely woolly stems up to several dozen centimeters tall, it has an open, spreading growth habit. Its leaves are oblanceolate, green, and covered with soft strigose to long woolly hairs approximately 2 millimeters long, with distal leaves only slightly reduced in size. The plant's sparse woolly texture and delicate yellow flowers make it a characteristic coastal grassland species.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 9 sympatric species; distinguished by coastal habitat, woolly base, flat green leaves, and few heads
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dunes, headlands, grassy coastal slopes
Elevation: < 200 m
California counties: Alameda, Marin, Mendocino, Nevada, San Mateo, Sonoma, Santa Clara, Contra Costa, Solano, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Humboldt, Yolo
Bloom period
Heterotheca sessiliflora subsp. bolanderi blooms Jun-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Grindelia: Heterotheca has multi-layered bracts; Grindelia bracts curve backward and flower buds are sticky-resinous.; vs Isocoma: Heterotheca has conspicuous yellow ray petals; Isocoma has only disk flowers (no rays).; vs Erigeron: Heterotheca rays are yellow and 3-12mm; Erigeron rays are white/purple/pink and typically numerous.; vs Laennecia: Heterotheca has showy 3-12mm yellow rays; Laennecia has tiny inconspicuous white rays.; vs Verbascum: Heterotheca has composite flower heads with bracts; Verbascum has simple 5-petaled flowers on tall spikes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Heterotheca sessiliflora subsp. bolanderi native to California?
Yes. Heterotheca sessiliflora subsp. bolanderi is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Heterotheca sessiliflora subsp. bolanderi bloom?
Heterotheca sessiliflora subsp. bolanderi blooms Jun-Sep.
Where in California does Heterotheca sessiliflora subsp. bolanderi grow?
Heterotheca sessiliflora subsp. bolanderi occurs in Alameda, Marin, Mendocino, Nevada, San Mateo, Sonoma, Santa Clara, Contra Costa and other counties, at elevations of < 200 m.
What plant family does Heterotheca sessiliflora subsp. bolanderi belong to?
Heterotheca sessiliflora subsp. bolanderi is in the Asteraceae family, genus Heterotheca.
What habitat does Heterotheca sessiliflora subsp. bolanderi grow in?
Heterotheca sessiliflora subsp. bolanderi grows in Dunes, headlands, grassy coastal slopes.
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.