Lasthenia debilis
Greene's goldfields
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Lasthenia debilis (Greene's goldfields) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by pale flowers and 5 deciduous phyllaries diagnostic.
Greene's goldfields is a California native annual found in central Sierra Nevada Foothill woodlands, the Temblor Range of southwestern California, and western Mojave Desert areas in shaded, moist woodland slopes at elevations below 500 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces yellow to white flowers with dark red corollas in small involucres 5 to 7 millimeters wide, ray flowers extending 3 to 5 millimeters long. Growing with simple or branched ascending stems less than 30 centimeters tall, the plant has a delicate, hairy structure. Its linear to linear-oblong leaves range from 1 to 8 centimeters long, generally entire with occasional 1 to 2 teeth, and covered in soft hairs. The tiny fruits are less than 3 millimeters long, appearing black and slightly linear with occasional white or brown scale-like appendages.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species; pale flowers and 5 deciduous phyllaries diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: +- shaded, moist woodland slopes
Elevation: < 500 m
Bloom period
Lasthenia debilis blooms Mar-May.
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 debilis native to California?
Yes. Lasthenia debilis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lasthenia debilis bloom?
Lasthenia debilis blooms Mar-May.
What plant family does Lasthenia debilis belong to?
Lasthenia debilis is in the Asteraceae family, genus Lasthenia.
What habitat does Lasthenia debilis grow in?
Lasthenia debilis grows in +- shaded, moist woodland slopes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.