Reseda luteola
Dyer's rocket
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Resedaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Reseda luteola (Dyer's rocket) is a non-native California herb in the Resedaceae family, recognized by entire leaves are diagnostic across all regions.
Dyer's rocket is a naturalized biennial found in coastal and central California regions including the northern Coast Ranges, San Francisco Bay Area, and southern coastal areas in disturbed areas, fields, and roadsides at elevations below 250 meters. Flowering from May to October, this plant produces small, irregular yellow flowers approximately 2 to 4 millimeters long with distinctive asymmetrical petals. Growing with glabrous stems up to one meter tall, it forms an upright, branching structure with slender, smooth green stems. Its leaves are simple and entire, arranged alternately along the stem without serrations or complex divisions. The plant produces erect, three-parted fruits containing smooth seeds less than one millimeter long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; entire leaves are diagnostic across all regions
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas, fields, roadsides
Elevation: < 250 m
California counties: San Diego, Napa, Mendocino, Marin, Kern, Tehama, Alameda, Sonoma, Yuba, Trinity, Placer, Humboldt, Glenn, Sacramento, Lake
Outside California: native to Old World
Bloom period
Reseda luteola blooms May-Oct.
How to tell it apart
vs Rumex: Reseda has 4-6 petals per flower in dense spikes; Rumex has no petals, just greenish sepals in whorls.; vs Erigeron: Reseda has spike-like clusters of small individual flowers; Erigeron has composite daisy-like flower heads.; vs Ambrosia: Reseda has small flowers with visible petals; Ambrosia has no petals, just green composite flower heads.; vs Verbascum: Reseda flowers are tiny in dense spikes; Verbascum has large 5-petaled flowers in tall racemes.; vs Oligomeris: Reseda has 4-6 petals and 10-25 stamens; Oligomeris has only 2 petals and 3-4 stamens.
Frequently asked questions
Is Reseda luteola native to California?
No. Reseda luteola is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Reseda luteola bloom?
Reseda luteola blooms May-Oct.
Where in California does Reseda luteola grow?
Reseda luteola occurs in San Diego, Napa, Mendocino, Marin, Kern, Tehama, Alameda, Sonoma and other counties, at elevations of < 250 m.
What plant family does Reseda luteola belong to?
Reseda luteola is in the Resedaceae family, genus Reseda.
What habitat does Reseda luteola grow in?
Reseda luteola grows in Disturbed areas, fields, roadsides.
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.