Leptosyne douglasii
Douglas' coreopsis
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Leptosyne douglasii (Douglas' coreopsis) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by glaucous appearance and fleshy entire leaves.
Douglas' coreopsis is a California native annual found in the eastern San Francisco Bay Area, southern Coast Ranges, and northern Western Transverse Ranges on dry, rocky slopes at elevations of 150 to 600 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces yellow ray flowers 5 to 12 millimeters long surrounding a compact disk of smaller flowers. Growing 5 to 25 centimeters tall with 1 to a few erect, glaucous stems, it has a distinctively glabrous appearance. Its leaves are linear, 2 to 8 centimeters long and only 1 millimeter wide, with a slightly fleshy texture and a grooved upper surface. The plant produces small, shiny dark brown fruits with a subtle yellow wing, characteristic of its delicate coreopsis form.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; glaucous appearance and fleshy entire leaves are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, rocky slopes
Elevation: 150-600 m
California counties: Kern, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Inyo, Santa Clara, Riverside
Bloom period
Leptosyne douglasii blooms Mar-May.
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 douglasii native to California?
Yes. Leptosyne douglasii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Leptosyne douglasii bloom?
Leptosyne douglasii blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Leptosyne douglasii grow?
Leptosyne douglasii occurs in Kern, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Inyo and other counties, at elevations of 150-600 m.
What plant family does Leptosyne douglasii belong to?
Leptosyne douglasii is in the Asteraceae family, genus Leptosyne.
What habitat does Leptosyne douglasii grow in?
Leptosyne douglasii grows in Dry, rocky slopes.
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.