Leptosyne stillmanii
Stillman's coreopsis
(c) Tim Messick, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Leptosyne stillmanii (Stillman's coreopsis) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by wider oblanceolate leaf segments.
Stillman's coreopsis is a California native annual found in northern California regions including the North Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada Foothills, Central Valley, San Francisco Bay Area, and northern South Coast Ranges in grassy slopes at elevations below 900 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces yellow flowers with ray blooms 5 to 8 millimeters long in solitary heads arranged on slender stems. Growing 5 to 30 centimeters tall with 1 to few erect, glabrous stems, it develops a distinctive growth pattern. Its leaves are both basal and alternating on the lower stem, featuring delicate 1 to 2-pinnate blades with narrow oblanceolate lobes 1 to 3 millimeters wide. The fruits are dark brown, obovate, and flat, measuring 2.5 to 5 millimeters long with a subtle yellow wing.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; wider oblanceolate leaf segments are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Grassy slopes
Elevation: < 900 m
California counties: Stanislaus, Madera, Tuolumne, Santa Clara, Mariposa
Bloom period
Leptosyne stillmanii 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 stillmanii native to California?
Yes. Leptosyne stillmanii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Leptosyne stillmanii bloom?
Leptosyne stillmanii blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Leptosyne stillmanii grow?
Leptosyne stillmanii occurs in Stanislaus, Madera, Tuolumne, Santa Clara, Mariposa, at elevations of < 900 m.
What plant family does Leptosyne stillmanii belong to?
Leptosyne stillmanii is in the Asteraceae family, genus Leptosyne.
What habitat does Leptosyne stillmanii grow in?
Leptosyne stillmanii grows in Grassy slopes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Leptosyne bigelovii — Bigelow coreopsis
- Leptosyne californica — California coreopsis
- Leptosyne calliopsidea — Leafy stemmed coreopsis
- Leptosyne douglasii — Douglas' coreopsis
- Leptosyne gigantea — Giant tickseed
- Leptosyne hamiltonii — Mount hamilton tickseed
- Lessingia arachnoidea — Crystal springs lessingia
- Lessingia germanorum — San francisco lessingia
- Lessingia glandulifera — Valley lessingia
- Lessingia glandulifera var. glandulifera — Sticky lessingia
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.