Lessingia pectinata var. pectinata
Valley lessingia
Photo: parent species Lessingia pectinata · (c) Pinnacles National Park, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Pinnacles National Park · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Lessingia pectinata var. pectinata (Valley lessingia) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by deeply lobed leaves and dark stems distinctive.
Valley lessingia is a California native annual herb found in the southern central Coast Ranges in sandy coastal soil at elevations below 100 meters. Flowering from May to October, this plant produces delicate flowers with subtle coloration. Growing with slender stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall that range from reddish to dark brown and become glandular-hairy toward the tips. Its leaves are small, 2 to 15 millimeters long, with narrow dentate or pinnately lobed margins that create a finely textured appearance. The plant's distinctive reddish-brown stems and intricately divided leaves make it a subtle but fascinating component of coastal sandy habitats.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Co-occurs with 1 species; deeply lobed leaves and dark stems distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy soil
Elevation: < 100 m
Bloom period
Lessingia pectinata var. pectinata blooms May-Oct.
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 pectinata var. pectinata native to California?
Yes. Lessingia pectinata var. pectinata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lessingia pectinata var. pectinata bloom?
Lessingia pectinata var. pectinata blooms May-Oct.
What plant family does Lessingia pectinata var. pectinata belong to?
Lessingia pectinata var. pectinata is in the Asteraceae family, genus Lessingia.
What habitat does Lessingia pectinata var. pectinata grow in?
Lessingia pectinata var. pectinata grows in Sandy soil.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.