Pyrrocoma carthamoides var. cusickii
Large-flowered goldenweed, Large-Flowered Goldenweed
(c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Pyrrocoma carthamoides var. cusickii (Large-flowered goldenweed) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by . Ray length relative to pappus.
Large-flowered goldenweed is a California native perennial found in the northern Sierra Nevada Mountains and Modoc Plateau in barren rocky areas and lava fields at elevations of 900 to 2,800 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces yellow flower heads with ray flowers 2 to 7 millimeters long clustered in raceme-like arrangements. Growing with stems 6 to 43 centimeters tall, it develops an upright, somewhat branching habit with glandular-puberulent surfaces. Its leaves are narrowly lanceolate, 5 to 21 centimeters long, with margins ranging from nearly entire to spiny-serrate and a slightly hairy texture. The fruit is 3 to 5.5 millimeters long, distinctively 4-angled with a tan to red-brown pappus 6 to 9 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 13 sympatric species. Ray length relative to pappus is diagnostic.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Barren rocky areas, lava fields
Elevation: 900-2800 m
Outside California: to Washington, Idaho, northern Nevada
Bloom period
Pyrrocoma carthamoides var. cusickii blooms Jun-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Heterotheca: Pyrrocoma has 3-4 angled fruits and prominent basal rosette; Heterotheca has round fruits.; vs Solidago: Pyrrocoma grows from stout taproot with basal rosette in alpine areas; Solidago lacks prominent basal rosette.; vs Xanthisma: Pyrrocoma has 3-4 angled fruits from basal rosette; Xanthisma has round fruits and branched stems.; vs Tonestus: Pyrrocoma has variable hairiness (smooth to woolly); Tonestus is always sticky-glandular.; vs Petradoria: Pyrrocoma grows in alpine areas with angled fruits; Petradoria is desert-only with phyllaries in vertical ranks.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pyrrocoma carthamoides var. cusickii native to California?
Yes. Pyrrocoma carthamoides var. cusickii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Pyrrocoma carthamoides var. cusickii bloom?
Pyrrocoma carthamoides var. cusickii blooms Jun-Sep.
What plant family does Pyrrocoma carthamoides var. cusickii belong to?
Pyrrocoma carthamoides var. cusickii is in the Asteraceae family, genus Pyrrocoma.
What habitat does Pyrrocoma carthamoides var. cusickii grow in?
Pyrrocoma carthamoides var. cusickii grows in Barren rocky areas, lava fields.
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.