Senecio glomeratus
Cutleaf burnweed
(c) Jon Sullivan, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jon Sullivan · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Senecio glomeratus (Cutleaf burnweed) is a non-native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by tall woolly stems, dissected leaves, numerous small disciform heads.
Cutleaf burnweed is a naturalized perennial herb found in coastal areas of northern California, including the North Coast, western Central Western California, and northern Channel Islands at elevations below 300 meters. Flowering from April to September, this plant produces heads of small greenish flowers clustered densely at branch tips, forming panicle-like clusters. Growing with gray to white-hairy stems 1 to 2 meters tall, it develops multiple stems from a taprooted base. Its leaves are distinctive, with sessile mid-stem leaves 3 to 15 centimeters long, pinnately lobed with dentate edges, becoming smaller and bract-like toward the stem tips. The plant forms numerous small flower heads, with each involucre containing 13 light green, hairy phyllaries.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 15 sympatric species; key features are tall woolly stems, dissected leaves, numerous small disciform heads
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed sites, mostly coastal
Elevation: < 300 m
Outside California: to Washington, Australia, New Zealand
Bloom period
Senecio glomeratus blooms Apr-Sep.
Conservation status
Cal-IPC Yes
How to tell it apart
vs Packera: Senecio has larger leaves (over 2.5 inches) and often black-tipped bracts; Packera has tiny leaves (under 1.5 inches) with green or reddish tips.; vs Sonchus: Senecio has yellow daisy flowers with a neat single row of bracts; Sonchus has dandelion-like flowers and milky sap when broken.; vs Dudleya: Senecio is in the sunflower family with daisy flowers; Dudleya is a succulent with thick fleshy leaves and star-shaped flowers.; vs Ericameria: Senecio has one main row of equal bracts around flower heads; Ericameria has 2-4 overlapping rows of unequal bracts.; vs Taraxacum: Senecio has branching stems with multiple flower heads; Taraxacum has leafless hollow stems with single dandelion-like heads.
Frequently asked questions
Is Senecio glomeratus native to California?
No. Senecio glomeratus is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Senecio glomeratus bloom?
Senecio glomeratus blooms Apr-Sep.
What plant family does Senecio glomeratus belong to?
Senecio glomeratus is in the Asteraceae family, genus Senecio.
Is Senecio glomeratus invasive in California?
Senecio glomeratus is listed by Cal-IPC with an invasiveness rating of Yes.
What habitat does Senecio glomeratus grow in?
Senecio glomeratus grows in Disturbed sites, mostly coastal.
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.