Layia gaillardioides
Woodland layia
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ken-ichi Ueda · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Layia gaillardioides (Woodland layia) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by purple-streaked ascending stems and strong scent.
Woodland layia is a California native annual found in coastal and central California bioregions including northern Coast Ranges, San Francisco Bay Area, and coastal areas of San Luis Obispo County in open or semi-shaded slopes at elevations below 1,300 meters. Flowering from March to August, this plant produces yellow flowers with rays 3.5 to 18 millimeters long, often with white or pale-yellow tips. Growing 6 to 60 centimeters tall with ascending purple-streaked stems that are glandular and often strongly scented, it has a distinctive appearance. Its leaves range from linear to lanceolate, with proximal leaves that may be serrate or lobed up to halfway to the midvein. The disk flowers feature dark purple anthers, creating an intricate floral display with 14 to 100 individual disk flowers.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 12 sympatric species; purple-streaked ascending stems and strong scent
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open or semi-shaded slopes, in sandy or clayey soil (including serpentine)
Elevation: < 1300 m
Bloom period
Layia gaillardioides blooms Mar-Aug.
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 gaillardioides native to California?
Yes. Layia gaillardioides is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Layia gaillardioides bloom?
Layia gaillardioides blooms Mar-Aug.
What plant family does Layia gaillardioides belong to?
Layia gaillardioides is in the Asteraceae family, genus Layia.
What habitat does Layia gaillardioides grow in?
Layia gaillardioides grows in Open or semi-shaded slopes, in sandy or clayey 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.