Layia heterotricha
Pale-yellow layia
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Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1
Layia heterotricha (Pale-yellow layia) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by distinctive fruity scent and stout hollow stems.
Pale-yellow layia is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native annual found in southern Sierra Nevada foothills, Tehachapi, eastern and western edges of San Joaquin Valley, southern Coast Ranges, and northern Western Transverse Ranges in open clayey or sandy soil at elevations of 200 to 1,800 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces white or cream ray flowers up to 24 millimeters long with yellow to brownish disk flowers in heads 6 to 13 millimeters wide. Growing 13 to 90 centimeters tall with stout, often hollow stems that are glandular and have an apple or banana-like scent, the plant has a distinctive growth habit. Its leaves are less than 12 centimeters long, elliptic to ovate, often clasping, with proximal leaves entire or with minute teeth. The ray fruits are generally glabrous with a pappus of 14 to 20 bristles that fall easily as a unit.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 11 sympatric species; distinctive fruity scent and stout hollow stems
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open clayey or sandy soil, sometimes +- alkaline
Elevation: 200-1800 m
Bloom period
Layia heterotricha blooms Apr-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1
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 heterotricha native to California?
Yes. Layia heterotricha is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Layia heterotricha bloom?
Layia heterotricha blooms Apr-Jun.
What plant family does Layia heterotricha belong to?
Layia heterotricha is in the Asteraceae family, genus Layia.
Is Layia heterotricha rare or endangered?
Layia heterotricha carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S2.
What habitat does Layia heterotricha grow in?
Layia heterotricha grows in Open clayey or sandy soil, sometimes +- alkaline.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.