Rudbeckia klamathensis
Klamath cone-flower
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Rudbeckia klamathensis (Klamath cone-flower) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by differentiated by leaf size/shape and presence of ray flowers.
Klamath cone-flower is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges in meadows and seeps at elevations of 1,000 to 1,600 meters. Flowering from August to September, this plant produces yellow-green ray flowers 2 to 3.5 centimeters long that are often reflexed, surrounding a distinctive conic to columnar receptacle. Growing with stout stems 50 to 100 centimeters tall that are glaucous and few-branched near the top, it has a robust rhizomatous base. Its large leaves range from 15 to 65 centimeters long and 5 to 14 centimeters wide, with ovate to elliptic blades that are entire to coarsely toothed or lobed, and appear glaucous and glabrous. The fruit is 4 to 6 millimeters long with distinctive pappus scales approximately 1.5 millimeters in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; differentiated by leaf size/shape and presence of ray flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Meadows, seeps
Elevation: 1000-1600 m
California counties: Shasta, Siskiyou, Trinity, Del Norte, Humboldt
Bloom period
Rudbeckia klamathensis blooms Aug-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Encelia: Rudbeckia has a tall dark cone center; Encelia has tiny or absent ray petals and flat centers.; vs Helianthus: Rudbeckia has a tall dark cone-shaped center; Helianthus has a flat or gently rounded yellow center.; vs Helenium: Rudbeckia has a cone that starts flat-topped; Helenium has a round ball-shaped center from the start.; vs Ratibida: Rudbeckia fruits are smooth-edged; Ratibida fruits have hairy fringed edges.; vs Gazania: Rudbeckia has a tall cone center; Gazania has a flat center with distinctive dark markings at petal bases.
Frequently asked questions
Is Rudbeckia klamathensis native to California?
Yes. Rudbeckia klamathensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Rudbeckia klamathensis bloom?
Rudbeckia klamathensis blooms Aug-Sep.
Where in California does Rudbeckia klamathensis grow?
Rudbeckia klamathensis occurs in Shasta, Siskiyou, Trinity, Del Norte, Humboldt, at elevations of 1000-1600 m.
What plant family does Rudbeckia klamathensis belong to?
Rudbeckia klamathensis is in the Asteraceae family, genus Rudbeckia.
What habitat does Rudbeckia klamathensis grow in?
Rudbeckia klamathensis grows in Meadows, seeps.
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.