Senecio mohavensis
Mojave ragwort
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Senecio mohavensis (Mojave ragwort) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by annual habit, fleshy glaucous leaves, tiny/absent rays, desert habitat.
Mojave ragwort is a California native annual herb found in the Mojave Desert bioregion in sandy and rocky washes and desert flats at elevations of 100 to 700 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces yellow flowers in small clusters with heads 3 to 15 millimeters long, often with a purple-tinged appearance. Growing 20 to 40 centimeters tall with a single stem that branches proximally or distally, it has a distinctive taproot and glaucous stems. Its fleshy leaves are ovate to obovate, 2 to 6 centimeters long, with coarsely lobed or irregularly toothed edges, and sessile with truncate to heart-shaped bases that clasp the stem. The fruit is 1.5 to 3 millimeters long and covered in fine hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species; key features are annual habit, fleshy glaucous leaves, tiny/absent rays, desert habitat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy, rocky washes, desert flats
Elevation: 100-700 m
Outside California: Nevada, Arizona, Sonora
Bloom period
Senecio mohavensis blooms Mar-May.
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 mohavensis native to California?
Yes. Senecio mohavensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Senecio mohavensis bloom?
Senecio mohavensis blooms Mar-May.
What plant family does Senecio mohavensis belong to?
Senecio mohavensis is in the Asteraceae family, genus Senecio.
What habitat does Senecio mohavensis grow in?
Senecio mohavensis grows in Sandy, rocky washes, desert flats.
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.