Jensia yosemitana
Yosemite tarplant
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 3.2
Jensia yosemitana (Yosemite tarplant) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by elevation, habitat preferences, and smaller morphological features.
Yosemite tarplant is a native annual found in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in meadows and sandy sites at elevations of 1,200 to 2,300 meters. Flowering from May to August, this delicate plant produces small yellow flowers in compact heads with narrow phyllary bracts. Growing as a slender, branching annual with thin stems reaching 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it spreads across open mountain meadow landscapes. Its leaves are narrow and thread-like, measuring 10 to 50 millimeters long and only 1 to 2 millimeters wide, giving the plant a graceful, wispy appearance. The plant's compact flowering structure and fine, linear leaves make it a subtle but distinctive component of high-elevation Sierra Nevada habitats.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; distinguished by elevation, habitat preferences, and smaller morphological features
Habitat and range
Habitat: Meadows, sandy sites
Elevation: 1200-2300 m
California counties: Fresno, Mariposa, Tulare, Tuolumne, Calaveras, Santa Clara, Amador, Madera, El Dorado
Bloom period
Jensia yosemitana blooms May-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 3.2
How to tell it apart
vs Madia: Jensia has dark purple anthers; Madia has yellow to brownish anthers.; vs Layia: Jensia has dark purple anthers; Layia has yellow anthers and longer feathery bristles.; vs Kyhosia: Jensia is annual; Kyhosia is perennial.; vs Anisocarpus: Jensia is annual with dark purple anthers; Anisocarpus is perennial with yellow-brown anthers.; vs Harmonia: Jensia has dark purple anthers; Harmonia has yellow to brown anthers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Jensia yosemitana native to California?
Yes. Jensia yosemitana is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Jensia yosemitana bloom?
Jensia yosemitana blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Jensia yosemitana grow?
Jensia yosemitana occurs in Fresno, Mariposa, Tulare, Tuolumne, Calaveras, Santa Clara, Amador, Madera and other counties, at elevations of 1200-2300 m.
What plant family does Jensia yosemitana belong to?
Jensia yosemitana is in the Asteraceae family, genus Jensia.
Is Jensia yosemitana rare or endangered?
Jensia yosemitana carries California Rare Plant Rank 3.2, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.