Layia hieracioides
Hawkweed layia
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ken-ichi Ueda · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Layia hieracioides (Hawkweed layia) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by very small yellow rays and strictly erect purple-streaked stems.
Hawkweed layia is a California native annual found in central western and western Transverse Ranges in open, semi-shady, or disturbed sites at elevations below 1,200 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces yellow ray flowers 1 to 4 millimeters long with distinctive dark purple disk flower anthers. Growing 5 to 130 centimeters tall with strictly erect, purple-streaked stems that are glandular and sweetly or pungently scented, it develops an upright and linear form. Its leaves range from elliptic to linear or oblanceolate, less than 15 centimeters long, with proximal leaves often toothed or irregularly lobed. The plant's fruit features a pappus of 10 to 16 white to red-brown bristles that are plumose at the base and scabrous distally.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 11 sympatric species; very small yellow rays and strictly erect purple-streaked stems
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, semi-shady, or disturbed sites, in light soil
Elevation: < 1200 m
Bloom period
Layia hieracioides blooms Apr-Jul.
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 hieracioides native to California?
Yes. Layia hieracioides is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Layia hieracioides bloom?
Layia hieracioides blooms Apr-Jul.
What plant family does Layia hieracioides belong to?
Layia hieracioides is in the Asteraceae family, genus Layia.
What habitat does Layia hieracioides grow in?
Layia hieracioides grows in Open, semi-shady, or disturbed sites, in light soil.
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.