Heterotheca villosa
Hairy goldenaster
(c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Heterotheca villosa (Hairy goldenaster) is a native California subshrub in the Asteraceae family.
Hairy goldenaster is a California native perennial herb found in varied habitats across the state's mountainous regions. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces yellow ray flowers 4 to 10 millimeters long surrounded by numerous yellow disk flowers. Growing with decumbent to erect stems 20 to 50 centimeters tall that are bristly and sometimes glandular, it has a distinctively hairy appearance. Its lower leaves are oblanceolate and densely covered with short bristly hairs, while upper leaves become gradually smaller and more clasping toward the stem. The plant forms open, flat-topped clusters of flower heads with involucres 6 to 9.5 millimeters wide, creating a delicate and textured botanical display.
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 villosa native to California?
Yes. Heterotheca villosa is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Heterotheca villosa belong to?
Heterotheca villosa is in the Asteraceae family, genus Heterotheca.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Heterotheca villosa var. minor — Hairy false goldenaster
- Heterotheca villosa var. scabra — Hairy false goldenaster
- Heterotheca grandiflora — Telegraph weed
- Heterotheca monarchensis — Monarch goldenaster
- Heterotheca oregona — Rayless goldenaster
- Heterotheca oregona var. compacta — Compact oregon goldenaster
- Hieracium albiflorum — White hawkweed
- Hieracium argutum — Southern hawkweed
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.