Heterotheca sessiliflora subsp. sessiliflora

Beach goldenaster, Beach Goldenaster

Family: Asteraceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1

Beach goldenaster is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native perennial found in southern Central and Southern Coast bioregions in coastal beaches, dunes, and mud flats at elevations below 60 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces yellow flowers in small heads subtended by leaf-like bracts. Growing with moderately bristly stems generally 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it has a distinctively hairy and glandular appearance. Its leaves are wavy-margined, green, with sparse hairs approximately 1 millimeter long, becoming smaller and reduced toward the stem tips. The plant is notable for its dense strigose (bristly) texture, particularly on its lower portions.

Habitat: Beaches, dunes, mud flats

Bloom period: Jun-Sep

Elevation: < 60 m

Bioregions: s CCo, SCo

California counties: Los Angeles, San Diego, Monterey, Santa Clara, Ventura, Orange

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