Isocoma menziesii var. menziesii
Menzies' goldenbush
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Isocoma menziesii var. menziesii (Menzies' goldenbush) is a native California subshrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by glabrous herbage and erect habit diagnostic.
Menzies' goldenbush is a California native shrub found in southern California, the southern Channel Islands, and the Peninsular Ranges on roadbanks, hill toeslopes, and creek terrace cliffs at elevations below 1,200 meters. Flowering from June to November, this plant produces yellow flowers in dense, flat-topped clusters with individual flower heads 5.5 to 6.5 millimeters long. Growing up to 2 meters tall with erect or spreading stems that are nearly hairless, it has a distinctive branching habit. Its leaves are linear to narrowly oblanceolate, clustered in stem axils, less than 4.5 centimeters long, and may have one to two teeth near the leaf tip. The shrub thrives in varied habitats including shale and vertic clay soils, occasionally appearing on serpentine landscapes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species; glabrous herbage and erect habit diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Roadbanks, hill toeslopes, creek terrace cliffs, shale, vertic clay, occasionally serpentine
Elevation: < 1200 m
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Isocoma menziesii var. menziesii blooms Jun-Nov.
How to tell it apart
vs Ericameria: Isocoma has randomly arranged bracts; Ericameria has bracts in 5 distinct vertical rows.; vs Hazardia: Isocoma has smooth or slightly hairy stems; Hazardia has densely hairy stems and leaves.; vs Baccharis: Isocoma has yellow bisexual flowers; Baccharis has whitish flowers on separate male/female plants.; vs Heterotheca: Isocoma has only disk flowers; Heterotheca has showy yellow ray flowers around the disk.; vs Eriogonum: Isocoma has yellow composite flowers; Eriogonum has small clustered flowers with colorful sepals but no petals.
Frequently asked questions
Is Isocoma menziesii var. menziesii native to California?
Yes. Isocoma menziesii var. menziesii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Isocoma menziesii var. menziesii bloom?
Isocoma menziesii var. menziesii blooms Jun-Nov.
What plant family does Isocoma menziesii var. menziesii belong to?
Isocoma menziesii var. menziesii is in the Asteraceae family, genus Isocoma.
What habitat does Isocoma menziesii var. menziesii grow in?
Isocoma menziesii var. menziesii grows in Roadbanks, hill toeslopes, creek terrace cliffs, shale, vertic clay, occasionally serpentine.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Isocoma menziesii var. sedoides — Menzies' goldenbush
- Isocoma menziesii var. vernonioides — Coastal goldenbush
- Isocoma sp. — Goldenbush
- Isocoma acradenia — Alkali goldenbush
- Isocoma acradenia var. acradenia — Alkali goldenbush
- Isocoma acradenia var. bracteosa — Bracted alkali goldenbush
- Iva axillaris — Poverty weed
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.