Perityle emoryi
Emory's rock daisy
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Perityle emoryi (Emory's rock daisy) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by Southwestern distribution, diverse desert genus with single California representative.
Emory's rock daisy is a California native perennial found in southern California coastal areas, Channel Islands, Peninsular Ranges, and desert regions in coastal scrub, pinyon/juniper woodland, and creosote-bush scrub at elevations below 1,300 meters. Flowering from January to June and October to November, this plant produces white ray flowers with yellow disk centers in small daisy-like heads. Growing with stems 2 to 60 centimeters tall that are puberulent and glandular, it can be simple or much-branched. Its alternate leaves are 2 to 10 centimeters long, varying from ovate to round or triangular, with coarsely toothed or palmately lobed edges that are often again toothed or subdivided. The fruit is 2 to 3 millimeters long with thin, ciliate margins.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Southwestern distribution, diverse desert genus with single California representative
Habitat and range
Habitat: Decomposed soils or rocky substrates in coastal scrub, pinyon/juniper woodland, and creosote-bush scrub
Elevation: < 1300 m
Outside California: to Utah, Arizona, northern Mexico
Bloom period
Perityle emoryi blooms Jan-Jun, Oct--Nov.
How to tell it apart
vs Laphamia: Perityle has bracts in 2-3 equal series; Laphamia has bracts in 1-2 unequal series.; vs Tanacetum: Perityle has small leaves under 2.5 cm; Tanacetum has larger, strongly aromatic, pinnately divided leaves.; vs Layia: Perityle has tiny leaves and grows on rocks; Layia has larger linear leaves and grows in open grasslands.; vs Glebionis: Perityle has tiny leaves under 2.5 cm; Glebionis has larger, lobed leaves and showy yellow flowers.; vs Erigeron: Perityle has bracts in 2-3 equal rows; Erigeron has many narrow bracts in 1-2 unequal rows.
Frequently asked questions
Is Perityle emoryi native to California?
Yes. Perityle emoryi is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Perityle emoryi bloom?
Perityle emoryi blooms Jan-Jun, Oct--Nov.
What plant family does Perityle emoryi belong to?
Perityle emoryi is in the Asteraceae family, genus Perityle.
What habitat does Perityle emoryi grow in?
Perityle emoryi grows in Decomposed soils or rocky substrates in coastal scrub, pinyon/juniper woodland, and creosote-bush scrub.
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.