Hulsea algida
High mountain hulsea
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Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Hulsea algida (High mountain hulsea) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by elevation, habitat, and yellow vs red rays.
High mountain hulsea is a California native perennial found in the northern Sierra Nevada and central Sierra Nevada Mountains, the White and Inyo Mountains in subalpine to alpine talus habitats at elevations of 3,000 to 4,000 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces yellow ray flowers with broad petals 2 to 4 millimeters wide in single or occasionally double flower heads. Growing 20 to 40 centimeters tall with long soft and somewhat glandular stems, it forms a clustered perennial herb with distinctive growth. Its basal leaves are less than 10 centimeters long and coarsely toothed, with a few smaller cauline leaves ascending along the stem. The flower heads are broadly shaped, 10 to 25 millimeters in diameter, with narrowly oblong phyllaries that taper to a point.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; distinguished by elevation, habitat, and yellow vs red rays
Habitat and range
Habitat: Subalpine to alpine talus
Elevation: 3000-4000 m
Outside California: to Oregon, Montana, Nevada
Bloom period
Hulsea algida blooms Jul-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Bahiopsis: Hulsea leaves are never woody-based shrubs like Bahiopsis; check if plant is herbaceous and high-elevation.; vs Encelia: Hulsea is sticky-glandular throughout; Encelia has dry, often silvery leaves without glandular hairs.; vs Heterotheca: Hulsea has exactly 4 seed scales in unequal pairs; Heterotheca has numerous bristly pappus.; vs Gaillardia: Hulsea leaves are entire to shallowly lobed; Gaillardia has deeply divided, dissected leaves.; vs Hymenoxys: Hulsea leaves are entire to shallowly lobed; Hymenoxys has deeply dissected, feathery leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hulsea algida native to California?
Yes. Hulsea algida is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Hulsea algida bloom?
Hulsea algida blooms Jul-Aug.
What plant family does Hulsea algida belong to?
Hulsea algida is in the Asteraceae family, genus Hulsea.
What habitat does Hulsea algida grow in?
Hulsea algida grows in Subalpine to alpine talus.
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.