Pyrrocoma hirta var. lanulosa
Tacky goldenweed
Photo: parent species Pyrrocoma hirta · (c) Daniel Kennedy, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Pyrrocoma hirta var. lanulosa (Tacky goldenweed) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by . Intermediate glandular nature and phyllary overlap pattern.
Tacky goldenweed is a California native perennial found in northern Sierra Nevada and Modoc Plateau in meadows, open forests, and occasionally alkaline soils at elevations of 1,700 to 2,200 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces yellow flowers in heads with overlapping, unequally sized phyllaries. Growing with stems 20 to 50 centimeters tall, it develops a woolly, sparsely glandular habit with soft, dense growth. Its leaves are distinctively woolly, covering the plant in a soft, textured layer that gives the plant its "tacky" character. The plant's unique combination of yellow flowers and woolly foliage makes it a distinctive feature of its high-elevation mountain habitats.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 12 sympatric species. Intermediate glandular nature and phyllary overlap pattern.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Meadows, open forest, sometimes in alkaline soil
Elevation: 1700-2200 m
Outside California: to Washington, Idaho
Bloom period
Pyrrocoma hirta var. lanulosa blooms Jun-Aug.
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 hirta var. lanulosa native to California?
Yes. Pyrrocoma hirta var. lanulosa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Pyrrocoma hirta var. lanulosa bloom?
Pyrrocoma hirta var. lanulosa blooms Jun-Aug.
What plant family does Pyrrocoma hirta var. lanulosa belong to?
Pyrrocoma hirta var. lanulosa is in the Asteraceae family, genus Pyrrocoma.
What habitat does Pyrrocoma hirta var. lanulosa grow in?
Pyrrocoma hirta var. lanulosa grows in Meadows, open forest, sometimes in alkaline 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.