Hulsea californica

San diego sunflower, San Diego Sunflower

Family: Asteraceae · Type: biennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3

San diego sunflower is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native biennial found in southern Peninsular Ranges, specifically in Laguna and Cuyamaca Mountains, on open sites at elevations of 1,000 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces bright yellow ray flowers in heads 15 to 26 millimeters wide with 22 to 40 distinctive yellow petals. Growing 40 to 120 centimeters tall with somewhat woolly and glandular stems, the plant has a robust and striking appearance. Its leaves are largest at the base, measuring 6 to 10 centimeters long and becoming progressively smaller toward the stem tips, with entire margins. The fruit is 4 to 6 millimeters long and covered in silky hairs, giving the plant a soft, textured appearance.

Habitat: Open sites

Bloom period: May-Aug

Elevation: 1000-2000 m

Bioregions: s PR (Laguna, Cuyamaca mtns).

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