Hulsea heterochroma
Red rayed hulsea
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Hulsea heterochroma (Red rayed hulsea) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by uniquely distinguished by red rays.
Red rayed hulsea is a California native perennial found in the Sierra Nevada, San Francisco Bay Area, southern Coast Ranges, Transverse Ranges, northern Peninsular Ranges, and northern Desert Mountains in open sites and recent burn areas at elevations of 300 to 2,700 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces distinctive red ray flowers less than 2 millimeters wide in heads 11 to 18 millimeters across. Growing up to 1.5 meters tall with stems that are densely glandular-hairy, it has a robust and somewhat sprawling form. Its basal leaves are 10 to 20 centimeters long, coarsely toothed, and green, becoming gradually smaller toward the stem tips. The fruit is densely hairy and 6 to 8 millimeters long with unequal pappus scales.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 8 sympatric species; uniquely distinguished by red rays
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open sites, recent burns
Elevation: 300-2700 m
Outside California: to Utah
Bloom period
Hulsea heterochroma blooms May-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 heterochroma native to California?
Yes. Hulsea heterochroma is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Hulsea heterochroma bloom?
Hulsea heterochroma blooms May-Aug.
What plant family does Hulsea heterochroma belong to?
Hulsea heterochroma is in the Asteraceae family, genus Hulsea.
What habitat does Hulsea heterochroma grow in?
Hulsea heterochroma grows in Open sites, recent burns.
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.