Microseris bigelovii
Coast microseris
no rights reserved · CC0
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Microseris bigelovii (Coast microseris) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by coastal habitat and blunt leaf tips.
Coast microseris is a California native annual found in northern coastal, central coastal, and San Francisco Bay bioregions in open sandy soil and rocky coastal headlands at elevations below 525 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces yellow to orange flowers in distinctive heads with 5 to 100 individual yellow ligules. Growing 6 to 60 centimeters tall with a scapose (leafless flowering stem) habit, it emerges from delicate root structures in coastal environments. Its leaves are 2 to 25 centimeters long, generally lobed with wide, blunt tips that create a soft, feathery appearance. The fruit develops with a silvery to nearly black pappus, featuring 5 curved scales and 3 to 8 millimeter bristles that aid in wind dispersal.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 11 sympatric species; coastal habitat and blunt leaf tips are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open sandy soil, or soil pockets on rocky coastal headlands
Elevation: < 525 m
Outside California: to British Columbia
Bloom period
Microseris bigelovii blooms Apr-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Uropappus: Microseris buds nod before opening; Uropappus buds stay erect and have exactly 5 silvery pappus scales.; vs Agoseris: Microseris has scale-like pappus; Agoseris has bristle-like pappus.; vs Stebbinsoseris: Microseris has triangular to oval pappus scales; Stebbinsoseris has lance-shaped scales.; vs Hypochaeris: Microseris has smooth flower stems; Hypochaeris has branched stems with small leaves.; vs Achyrachaena: Microseris has scale pappus and nodding buds; Achyrachaena has ray and disk flowers with different pappi.
Frequently asked questions
Is Microseris bigelovii native to California?
Yes. Microseris bigelovii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Microseris bigelovii bloom?
Microseris bigelovii blooms Apr-Jul.
What plant family does Microseris bigelovii belong to?
Microseris bigelovii is in the Asteraceae family, genus Microseris.
What habitat does Microseris bigelovii grow in?
Microseris bigelovii grows in Open sandy soil, or soil pockets on rocky coastal headlands.
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.