Lasthenia gracilis
Common goldfields, Common Goldfields
no rights reserved, uploaded by Cecelia Alexander · CC0
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Lasthenia gracilis (Common goldfields) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by widespread and variable, opaque white pappus scales somewhat distinctive.
Common goldfields is a California native annual found in the California Floristic Province (excluding northern coastal and high cascade ranges) and western Mojave Desert in diverse habitats at elevations below 1,500 meters. Flowering from February to June, this plant produces bright yellow flowers in heads 5 to 10 millimeters wide with distinctive dark red disk centers when tested in alkali solution. Growing with slender stems up to 40 centimeters tall, the plant can be simple or freely branched, with occasional basal branching in desert forms. Its leaves range from 0.8 to 7 centimeters long, linear to oblanceolate in shape, slightly hairy, and becoming more fleshy in coastal environments. The fruit is less than 3 millimeters long, with a potential pappus of 2 to 4 white, lance-ovate scales.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 20 sympatric species; widespread and variable, opaque white pappus scales somewhat distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Abundant, many habitats
Elevation: < 1500 m
California counties: Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Kern, Ventura, Tuolumne, Imperial, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Fresno, Inyo, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Monterey, Orange, Riverside, San Benito, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Stanislaus, Trinity, Tulare, Lake, Yuba, Amador, Sacramento, Sonoma, Tehama, Kings, Marin, San Francisco, Contra Costa, Napa, Alameda, Shasta, Del Norte, San Joaquin, Sutter, Colusa, Mendocino, Placer, Humboldt
Outside California: central Arizona, northwestern Baja California
Bloom period
Lasthenia gracilis blooms Feb-Jun.
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 gracilis native to California?
Yes. Lasthenia gracilis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lasthenia gracilis bloom?
Lasthenia gracilis blooms Feb-Jun.
Where in California does Lasthenia gracilis grow?
Lasthenia gracilis occurs in Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Kern, Ventura, Tuolumne, Imperial, Butte and other counties, at elevations of < 1500 m.
What plant family does Lasthenia gracilis belong to?
Lasthenia gracilis is in the Asteraceae family, genus Lasthenia.
What habitat does Lasthenia gracilis grow in?
Lasthenia gracilis grows in Abundant, many habitats.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.