Hulsea vestita subsp. vestita
Photo: parent species Hulsea vestita · Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Hulsea vestita subsp. vestita is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by entire leaves and woolly bracts.
Hulsea vestita subsp. vestita is a California native perennial found in central Sierra Nevada Mountains and northern eastern Sierra Nevada in open gravel, talus slopes, and montane sagebrush to fir forest at elevations of 2,400 to 3,350 meters. Flowering from May to September, this plant produces yellow ray flowers 5 to 9 millimeters long with green or red-tinged phyllary tips. Growing 10 to 40 centimeters tall with occasionally nearly leafless stems, it has a distinctive woolly appearance. Its basal leaves are entire, gradually tapered, and densely woolly on the underside, with leaf petioles matching the blade length. The plant's unique green to grayish-green foliage and woolly texture make it a distinctive alpine inhabitant.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; distinguished by entire leaves and woolly bracts
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open gravel, talus slopes, montane sagebrush to fir forest
Elevation: 2400-3350 m
Bloom period
Hulsea vestita subsp. vestita blooms May-Sep.
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 vestita subsp. vestita native to California?
Yes. Hulsea vestita subsp. vestita is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Hulsea vestita subsp. vestita bloom?
Hulsea vestita subsp. vestita blooms May-Sep.
What plant family does Hulsea vestita subsp. vestita belong to?
Hulsea vestita subsp. vestita is in the Asteraceae family, genus Hulsea.
What habitat does Hulsea vestita subsp. vestita grow in?
Hulsea vestita subsp. vestita grows in Open gravel, talus slopes, montane sagebrush to fir forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Hulsea algida — High mountain hulsea
- Hulsea brevifolia — Shortleaved hulsea
- Hulsea californica — San diego sunflower
- Hulsea heterochroma — Red rayed hulsea
- Hulsea mexicana — Mexican hulsea
- Hulsea nana — Little hulsea
- Hymenopappus filifolius — Columbia cutleaf
- Hymenopappus filifolius var. eriopodus — Hairy-podded fine-leaf hymenopappus
- Hymenopappus filifolius var. lugens — Columbia cutleaf
- Hymenopappus filifolius var. megacephalus — Fineleaf hymenopappus
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.