Hulsea vestita subsp. gabrielensis

San gabriel mountains sunflower, San Gabriel Mountains Sunflower

Family: Asteraceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 4.3

San gabriel mountains sunflower is a rare California native (CNPS 4.3) perennial found in eastern Transverse Ranges and San Gabriel Mountains on open gravel, talus slopes, chaparral, and montane forest at elevations of 1,500 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from April to August, this plant produces yellow to orange disk flowers with ray flowers that are 6 to 8 millimeters long and subtly red-tinged at the base. Growing to less than 50 centimeters tall with reddish petioles and a compact form, it develops basal leaves that are weakly scalloped and gradually tapered with woolly undersides. Its leaves feature distinctive reddish petioles shorter than the leaf blade, with basal leaves that are softly woolly and gently curved. The plant's flower heads have phyllary tips delicately tinged with red, adding a subtle chromatic accent to its alpine and chaparral habitats.

Habitat: Open gravel, talus slopes, chaparral, montane forest

Bloom period: Apr-Aug

Elevation: 1500-2500 m

Bioregions: e WTR, SnGb.

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