Hypochaeris radicata
Rough cat's-ear
(c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Hypochaeris radicata (Rough cat's-ear) is a non-native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by . Key differences: leaf dentition, plant size, uniform fruit morphology.
Rough cat's-ear is a naturalized perennial found in northwestern California, the Cascade Range, northern Sierra Nevada, Sacramento Valley, central western, and southwestern California in disturbed areas, grasslands, and open woodlands at elevations below 1,500 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces yellow flowers in heads approximately 12 to 16 millimeters wide. Growing with multiple stems from a fleshy root, reaching 10 to 80 centimeters tall, it forms dense clusters in open ground. Its leaves are 6 to 25 centimeters long, deeply toothed or lobed with a rough texture. The fruit develops a slender beak with pappus bristles 9 to 10 millimeters long, helping seeds disperse across disturbed landscapes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species. Key differences: leaf dentition, plant size, uniform fruit morphology
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas, grassland, open woodland
Elevation: < 1500 m
Outside California: to Alaska, Montana, Colorado, eastern North America, native to Europe
Bloom period
Hypochaeris radicata blooms Apr-Jul.
Conservation status
Cal-IPC Yes
How to tell it apart
vs Taraxacum: Hypochaeris has small bracts on the flowering stem; Taraxacum has completely smooth, bractless stems.; vs Leontodon: Hypochaeris has branched stems with bracts; Leontodon has unbranched, bractless stems.; vs Agoseris: Hypochaeris has small bracts along the flowering stem; Agoseris has completely smooth, bractless stems.; vs Crepis: Hypochaeris has stems with small bracts and often branches; Crepis stems branch extensively with many small flower heads.; vs Uropappus: Hypochaeris has bracts on the flowering stem; Uropappus has smooth stems and distinctive silvery seed plumes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hypochaeris radicata native to California?
No. Hypochaeris radicata is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Hypochaeris radicata bloom?
Hypochaeris radicata blooms Apr-Jul.
What plant family does Hypochaeris radicata belong to?
Hypochaeris radicata is in the Asteraceae family, genus Hypochaeris.
Is Hypochaeris radicata invasive in California?
Hypochaeris radicata is listed by Cal-IPC with an invasiveness rating of Yes.
What habitat does Hypochaeris radicata grow in?
Hypochaeris radicata grows in Disturbed areas, grassland, open woodland.
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.