Lessingia germanorum
San francisco lessingia, San Francisco Lessingia
(c) Neal Kelso, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered
Lessingia germanorum (San francisco lessingia) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by yellow flowers with purple-brown banded tubes.
San francisco lessingia is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native annual found in the central Coast and San Francisco Bay Area bioregions, specifically in sandy soils of the Presidio and San Mateo County at elevations below 100 meters. Flowering from June to November, this plant produces yellow flowers with purple-brown banded tubes in small heads 4 to 8 millimeters wide, with flower heads featuring distinctively recurved purple-tipped phyllaries. Growing with erect tan to reddish-brown stems 5 to 30 centimeters tall, the plant has a delicate upright structure. Its leaves are primarily basal with oblong to oblanceolate shapes, ranging from 0.5 to 3 centimeters long, and can be entire or occasionally pinnately lobed. The fruit is small, measuring 1 to 3 millimeters in length, with a tan pappus that is longer than the fruit itself.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Co-occurs with 13 species; yellow flowers with purple-brown banded tubes are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy soil
Elevation: < 100 m
Bloom period
Lessingia germanorum blooms Jun-Nov.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered
How to tell it apart
vs Palafoxia: Lessingia fruits tiny (2-4mm); Palafoxia fruits massive (10-15mm) - check seed size first; vs Pectis: Pectis has opposite leaves with oil glands; Lessingia has alternate leaves without glands; vs Deinandra: Deinandra flower heads very gummy/sticky; Lessingia merely hairy or minutely glandular; vs Stephanomeria: Stephanomeria has milky sap and all ligulate flowers; Lessingia has clear sap and disk flowers; vs Epilobium: Epilobium has 4 petals in a cross pattern; Lessingia has typical composite flower heads
Frequently asked questions
Is Lessingia germanorum native to California?
Yes. Lessingia germanorum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lessingia germanorum bloom?
Lessingia germanorum blooms Jun-Nov.
What plant family does Lessingia germanorum belong to?
Lessingia germanorum is in the Asteraceae family, genus Lessingia.
Is Lessingia germanorum rare or endangered?
Lessingia germanorum carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S1.
What habitat does Lessingia germanorum grow in?
Lessingia germanorum grows in Sandy soil.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Lessingia glandulifera — Valley lessingia
- Lessingia glandulifera var. glandulifera — Sticky lessingia
- Lessingia glandulifera var. peirsonii — Peirson's lessingia
- Lessingia glandulifera var. tomentosa — Warner springs lessingia
- Lessingia hololeuca — Woolly-headed lessingia
- Lessingia leptoclada — Sierra lessingia
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.