Lasthenia californica
California goldfields
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Lasthenia californica (California goldfields) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family.
California goldfields is a California native perennial found in low-elevation grasslands and coastal areas. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces bright yellow flowers in small heads with dark red centers when viewed in alkali solution. Growing with erect or decumbent stems up to 40 centimeters tall, it forms freely branched clusters that are lightly hairy. Its leaves range from 0.8 to 21 centimeters long, linear to oblanceolate in shape, with occasional small teeth and a slightly fleshy texture in coastal populations. The fruit is small, less than 4 millimeters long, and ranges from black to silver-gray in color.
How to tell it apart
vs Monolopia: Monolopia has alternate leaves; Lasthenia has opposite leaves throughout most of stem.; vs Eriophyllum: Eriophyllum is woolly-hairy; Lasthenia is smooth or only slightly hairy.; vs Ranunculus: Ranunculus has separate shiny petals and divided basal leaves; Lasthenia has composite flower heads.; vs Pseudobahia: Pseudobahia leaves are alternate above; Lasthenia leaves remain opposite throughout.; vs Blennosperma: Blennosperma has phyllaries fused into a cup; Lasthenia has separate overlapping phyllaries.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lasthenia californica native to California?
Yes. Lasthenia californica is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Lasthenia californica belong to?
Lasthenia californica is in the Asteraceae family, genus Lasthenia.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Lasthenia californica subsp. bakeri — Baker's goldfields
- Lasthenia californica subsp. californica — California goldfields
- Lasthenia californica subsp. macrantha — Perennial goldfields
- Lasthenia chrysantha — Alkali-sink goldfields
- Lasthenia conjugens — Contra costa goldfields
- Lasthenia coronaria — Crowned or royal goldfields
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.