Tolpis barbata

European milkwort

Family: Asteraceae · Type: annual · Not Native

European milkwort is a naturalized annual found in coastal central California, including the central coast and northern coastal ranges, on grassy slopes and disturbed sites at elevations below 600 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces delicate white to yellow flowers in small clusters. Growing with slender stems up to 70 centimeters tall, it has a spreading, branching habit. Its leaves are oblong, 2 to 15 centimeters long, ranging from entire to slightly lobed, with smaller leaves toward the stem tips. The plant's distinctive flower heads have linear phyllaries 6 to 15 millimeters long that spread outward, creating a delicate, open inflorescence.

Habitat: Uncommon. Grassy slopes, disturbed sites

Bloom period: Apr-Jun

Elevation: < 600 m

Bioregions: NCoRO, CCo

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.