Solidago guiradonis
Guirado's goldenrod
(c) Stan Shebs, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Solidago guiradonis (Guirado's goldenrod) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by limited range, serpentine habitat, narrow inflorescence, distal leaves scale-like with axillary clusters.
Guirado's goldenrod is a California native perennial found in southern San Benito and Fresno counties along perennial stream banks and serpentine areas at elevations of 600 to 900 meters. Flowering from September to October, this plant produces yellow flowers in narrow heads with 8 to 10 ray flowers measuring 1 to 2.5 millimeters long. Growing with slender stems less than 1.3 meters tall arising from a short caudex, it has a generally smooth appearance. Its leaves are distinctively shaped, with lower leaves up to 20 centimeters long and narrowly oblanceolate, becoming progressively smaller and more linear toward the stem tips. The plant's flower heads feature narrowly triangular phyllaries with sharply acute tips, creating a delicate and structured appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; key features are limited range, serpentine habitat, narrow inflorescence, distal leaves scale-like with axillary clusters
Habitat and range
Habitat: Perennial stream banks and seeps, serpentine
Elevation: 600-900 m
Bloom period
Solidago guiradonis blooms Sep-Oct.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
How to tell it apart
vs Euthamia: Solidago flowers cluster one-sided on branches; Euthamia flowers form flat-topped clusters.; vs Isocoma: Solidago has small yellow ray petals; Isocoma completely lacks ray petals (disk flowers only).; vs Senecio: Solidago heads in one-sided clusters; Senecio heads in flat or rounded clusters, never one-sided.; vs Eriophyllum: Solidago foliage is green and smooth; Eriophyllum foliage is densely white-woolly.; vs Artemisia: Solidago has showy yellow ray petals; Artemisia has tiny inconspicuous rayless heads.
Frequently asked questions
Is Solidago guiradonis native to California?
Yes. Solidago guiradonis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Solidago guiradonis bloom?
Solidago guiradonis blooms Sep-Oct.
What plant family does Solidago guiradonis belong to?
Solidago guiradonis is in the Asteraceae family, genus Solidago.
Is Solidago guiradonis rare or endangered?
Solidago guiradonis carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S3.
What habitat does Solidago guiradonis grow in?
Solidago guiradonis grows in Perennial stream banks and seeps, serpentine.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.