Pluchea sericea
Arrow-weed, Arrow-Weed
(c) W. Terry Hunefeld, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by W. Terry Hunefeld · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Pluchea sericea (Arrow-weed) is a native California shrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by key differences are growth habit, leaf attachment, and flower color.
Arrow-weed is a California native annual found in southern San Joaquin Valley, southern Coast Ranges, southwestern California, and desert regions, forming thickets in stream bottoms, washes, and canyons at elevations below 950 meters. Flowering from March to July, this plant produces pink to deep rose flowers in small heads 3.5 to 6 millimeters wide with brown-purple phyllaries. Growing as a tall plant one to five meters in height with an upright, dense habit, it develops sessile or nearly sessile leaves along its stems. Its leaves are simple and unstalked, creating a dense thicket-like appearance in riparian and desert environments. When mature, the plant produces tiny smooth fruits approximately 0.5 to 1 millimeter long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; key differences are growth habit, leaf attachment, and flower color
Habitat and range
Habitat: Forming thickets in stream bottoms, washes, canyons, around springs, sometimes in saline areas
Elevation: < 950 m
Outside California: to Utah, Texas, northwestern Mexico
Bloom period
Pluchea sericea blooms Mar-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Baccharis: Pluchea has purple disk flowers and strong scent; Baccharis has whitish flowers and lacks strong scent.; vs Atriplex: Pluchea has purple daisy-like flower heads; Atriplex (Amaranthaceae) has tiny clustered flowers without rays.; vs Salix: Pluchea has purple daisy flower heads; Salix has catkins and is in willow family.; vs Asclepias: Pluchea has purple disk flowers in daisy heads; Asclepias (milkweed) has distinctive umbel flowers with horns.; vs Artemisia: Pluchea has purple disk flowers and strong scent; Artemisia has yellow-green rayless heads.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pluchea sericea native to California?
Yes. Pluchea sericea is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Pluchea sericea bloom?
Pluchea sericea blooms Mar-Jul.
What plant family does Pluchea sericea belong to?
Pluchea sericea is in the Asteraceae family, genus Pluchea.
What habitat does Pluchea sericea grow in?
Pluchea sericea grows in Forming thickets in stream bottoms, washes, canyons, around springs, sometimes in saline areas.
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.