Ratibida columnifera
Upright prairie coneflower
(c) Meghan Cassidy, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Meghan Cassidy · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Ratibida columnifera (Upright prairie coneflower) is a non-native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by Only Ratibida species in CA, prairie species occasionally naturalized, distinctive for prominent cylindrical receptacle.
Upright prairie coneflower is a naturalized perennial found in the Peninsular Ranges and Mojave Plains in dry, rocky slopes, upland valleys, and open pine forest at elevations below 1,600 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces yellow ray flowers 7 to 30 millimeters long with 4 to 12 rays, surrounding a distinctive cylindric brown disk. Growing with erect stems 30 to 100 centimeters tall that are finely strigose (covered in short, stiff hairs), it forms an upright, branching habit. Its leaves are divided into linear to narrow elliptic lobes, with strigose leaf surfaces that give the plant a textured appearance. The flower heads are solitary at stem tips and in upper leaf axils, creating a distinctive prairie-like silhouette.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Only Ratibida species in CA, prairie species occasionally naturalized, distinctive for prominent cylindrical receptacle
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, rocky slopes, upland valleys, open pine forest
Elevation: < 1600 m
Outside California: native North America prairies, British Columbia to Ontario, southern to Arizona, Louisiana, northern Mexico
Bloom period
Ratibida columnifera blooms May-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Rudbeckia: Outer bracts much longer than inner (uneven collar) vs. bracts roughly equal length in Rudbeckia.; vs Heliomeris: Cone center is distinctly tall and elongated vs. flatter disk in Heliomeris.; vs Helianthus: Tall thimble-like cone center vs. flat disk in sunflower.; vs Viguiera: Dramatically unequal bracts (outer much longer) vs. similar-length bracts in Viguiera.; vs Bahiopsis: Tall cone center and herbaceous growth vs. flat disk and woody shrub form in Bahiopsis.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ratibida columnifera native to California?
No. Ratibida columnifera is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Ratibida columnifera bloom?
Ratibida columnifera blooms May-Aug.
What plant family does Ratibida columnifera belong to?
Ratibida columnifera is in the Asteraceae family, genus Ratibida.
What habitat does Ratibida columnifera grow in?
Ratibida columnifera grows in Dry, rocky slopes, upland valleys, open pine forest.
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.