Layia fremontii
Fremont layia
(c) Chaye Vail, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Layia fremontii (Fremont layia) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by glandless condition and glabrous, lanceolate pappus scales.
Fremont layia is a California native annual found in central coastal ranges, Sierra Nevada foothills, Great Valley, and Mendocino County in grassy or open habitats with heavy or shallow soils, including serpentine areas at elevations below 800 meters. Flowering from February to May, this plant produces ray flowers with yellow bases and white to light-yellow tips, set against white and dark purple disk flowers. Growing less than 40 centimeters tall with glandless stems, it displays linear to lanceolate leaves often divided near the midvein. Its leaves measure up to 7 centimeters long, with proximal leaves potentially having up to 30 divisions. The fruit features ray flowers that are glabrous with a pappus of 9 to 12 white to brownish scales, each 2 to 5 millimeters long with long-tapered tips.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 11 sympatric species; glandless condition and glabrous, lanceolate pappus scales
Habitat and range
Habitat: Grassy or open, heavy or shallow soil, including serpentine
Elevation: < 800 m
Bloom period
Layia fremontii blooms Feb-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Madia: Layia has prominent feathery seed bristles 2-4mm; Madia has tiny or no seed bristles.; vs Glebionis: Layia has feathery white seed plumes; Glebionis has yellow-orange rays and no seed plumes.; vs Deinandra: Layia has fluffy feathery seed bristles; Deinandra has straight, non-feathery bristles.; vs Monoptilon: Layia has 2-4mm feathery bristles; Monoptilon has shorter non-feathery bristles.; vs Hemizonia: Layia has prominent feathery seed plumes; Hemizonia has short non-feathery bristles or scales.
Frequently asked questions
Is Layia fremontii native to California?
Yes. Layia fremontii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Layia fremontii bloom?
Layia fremontii blooms Feb-May.
What plant family does Layia fremontii belong to?
Layia fremontii is in the Asteraceae family, genus Layia.
What habitat does Layia fremontii grow in?
Layia fremontii grows in Grassy or open, heavy or shallow soil, including serpentine.
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.