Heterotheca villosa var. scabra
Hairy false goldenaster
Photo: parent species Heterotheca villosa · (c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Heterotheca villosa var. scabra (Hairy false goldenaster) is a native California subshrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by narrow lance-triangular, scabrous-bristly, densely glandular leaves.
Hairy false goldenaster is a California native perennial found in the southern western desert mountains, specifically the Little San Bernardino Mountains, in rock crevices at elevations of 1,200 to 1,300 meters. Flowering from April to May and again from October to November, this plant produces yellow ray flowers 5 to 6 millimeters long with 9 to 14 rays surrounding a dense central disk. Growing 20 to 50 centimeters tall with erect stems that are sparsely scabrous and become increasingly glandular in fall growth, it has a distinctive appearance. Its mid-stem leaves are narrowly lance-triangular, somewhat bristly and sparsely covered with stiff hairs. The plant produces small fruits 2 to 3 millimeters long, contributing to its delicate structural character.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 0 sympatric species - geographically isolated; narrow lance-triangular, scabrous-bristly, densely glandular leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Rock crevices
Elevation: 1200-1300 m
Outside California: to Utah, northern Arizona
Bloom period
Heterotheca villosa var. scabra blooms Apr-May, Oct--Nov.
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 var. scabra native to California?
Yes. Heterotheca villosa var. scabra is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Heterotheca villosa var. scabra bloom?
Heterotheca villosa var. scabra blooms Apr-May, Oct--Nov.
What plant family does Heterotheca villosa var. scabra belong to?
Heterotheca villosa var. scabra is in the Asteraceae family, genus Heterotheca.
What habitat does Heterotheca villosa var. scabra grow in?
Heterotheca villosa var. scabra grows in Uncommon. Rock crevices.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Heterotheca grandiflora — Telegraph weed
- Heterotheca monarchensis — Monarch goldenaster
- Heterotheca oregona — Rayless goldenaster
- Heterotheca oregona var. compacta — Compact oregon goldenaster
- Heterotheca oregona var. oregona — Oregon false goldenaster
- Heterotheca oregona var. rudis — Oregon false goldenaster
- Hieracium albiflorum — White hawkweed
- Hieracium argutum — Southern hawkweed
- Hieracium aurantiacum — Orange hawkweed
- Hieracium bolanderi — Bolander's hawkweed
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.