Leptosyne bigelovii
Bigelow coreopsis
(c) David~O, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Leptosyne bigelovii (Bigelow coreopsis) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by leaf segments and involucre shape.
Bigelow coreopsis is a California native annual wildflower found in southern Sierra Nevada Foothills, Tehachapi, southern Coastal Ranges, Transverse Ranges, desert mountains, and northern Sonoran Desert in open woodlands, grasslands, and desert habitats at elevations of 150 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from February to June, this plant produces bright yellow ray flowers 5 to 25 millimeters long spreading around a central disk. Growing 10 to 30 centimeters tall with one to many erect stems, the plant has a delicate, upright form. Its finely divided leaves are predominantly basal, with blade segments 1 to 2 millimeters wide, linear and grooved on the upper surface. The fruit is distinctive, with ray fruits 3.5 to 6 millimeters long, brown or tan-splotched, and disk fruits 4 to 6 millimeters long with a central row of hairs along the inner surface.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species; key features are leaf segments and involucre shape
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open woodland, grassland, desert
Elevation: 150-2000 m
California counties: Kern, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Inyo, Fresno, San Luis Obispo, San Diego, Monterey
Bloom period
Leptosyne bigelovii blooms Feb-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Monolopia: Two distinct bract layers (outer leafy, inner thin) vs. single series of equal bracts.; vs Glebionis: Fertile ray flowers (make seeds) vs. sterile rays in crown daisy.; vs Encelia: Herbaceous to shrubby but not exclusively woody vs. always woody shrub.; vs Lasthenia: Large flower heads on individual stems vs. small heads often clustered in goldfields.; vs Coreopsis: Alternate or basal leaves vs. opposite leaves in Coreopsis.
Frequently asked questions
Is Leptosyne bigelovii native to California?
Yes. Leptosyne bigelovii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Leptosyne bigelovii bloom?
Leptosyne bigelovii blooms Feb-Jun.
Where in California does Leptosyne bigelovii grow?
Leptosyne bigelovii occurs in Kern, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Inyo, Fresno, San Luis Obispo and other counties, at elevations of 150-2000 m.
What plant family does Leptosyne bigelovii belong to?
Leptosyne bigelovii is in the Asteraceae family, genus Leptosyne.
What habitat does Leptosyne bigelovii grow in?
Leptosyne bigelovii grows in Open woodland, grassland, desert.
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.