Isocoma menziesii var. sedoides
Menzies' goldenbush
(c) Millie Basden, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Millie Basden · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Isocoma menziesii var. sedoides (Menzies' goldenbush) is a native California subshrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by thick fleshy leaves and prostrate cliff-hanging habit diagnostic.
Menzies' goldenbush is a California native shrub found in coastal bioregions including central Coast, southern Coast, and northern Channel Islands in exposed places on beaches, headlands, and sea cliffs at elevations below 70 meters. Flowering from June to December, this plant produces yellow flowers in dense, flat-topped clusters. Growing with a low, prostrate form rarely exceeding half a meter tall, the shrub often hangs dramatically from sea cliffs with thick, fleshy leaves. Its leaves are oblong to widely obovate, measuring 2 to 4 centimeters long and appearing distinctly succulent. The compact plant develops fruit 2.5 to 3.5 millimeters long, adapting beautifully to harsh coastal environments.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species; thick fleshy leaves and prostrate cliff-hanging habit diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Exposed places on beaches, headlands, sea cliffs
Elevation: < 70 m
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Isocoma menziesii var. sedoides blooms Jun-Dec.
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. sedoides native to California?
Yes. Isocoma menziesii var. sedoides is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Isocoma menziesii var. sedoides bloom?
Isocoma menziesii var. sedoides blooms Jun-Dec.
What plant family does Isocoma menziesii var. sedoides belong to?
Isocoma menziesii var. sedoides is in the Asteraceae family, genus Isocoma.
What habitat does Isocoma menziesii var. sedoides grow in?
Isocoma menziesii var. sedoides grows in Exposed places on beaches, headlands, sea cliffs.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- 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
- Isocoma acradenia var. eremophila — Solitary leaved alkali goldenbush
- Iva axillaris — Poverty weed
- Iva hayesiana — San diego marsh-elder
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.