Venegasia carpesioides
Canyon sunflower
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Venegasia carpesioides (Canyon sunflower) is a native California shrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by Monotypic genus endemic to California and Baja California.
Canyon sunflower is a California native shrub found in the central Coast Ranges, southwestern California, and southern California coastal ranges in moist, wooded canyon habitats at elevations below 1,000 meters. Flowering from February to July, this plant produces bright yellow ray flowers 15 to 30 millimeters long in radiate heads 1 to 3 centimeters in diameter. Growing 50 to 150 centimeters tall with several stems that are slightly hairy, it forms a distinctive multi-branched shrub. Its alternate leaves are triangular-ovate, 3 to 15 centimeters long, with subtle teeth along the edges and tiny resin dots on the undersides. The fruit is a small, slightly curved dark brown cylinder about 2 to 3 millimeters long with subtle ribs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Monotypic genus endemic to California and Baja California
Habitat and range
Habitat: Canyons, moist, wooded slopes
Elevation: < 1000 m
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Venegasia carpesioides blooms Generally Feb-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Helianthus: Venegasia is a woody shrub; Helianthus species are herbaceous annuals or perennials.; vs Encelia: Venegasia grows in shaded canyons with soft fuzzy leaves; Encelia prefers open sunny slopes with harsh-textured leaves.; vs Ageratina: Venegasia has yellow ray flowers; Ageratina has white/pink fluffy flowers without rays.; vs Tagetes: Venegasia is native shrub with plain leaves; Tagetes is aromatic annual with divided, ferny leaves.; vs Solanum: Venegasia has daisy flowers with separate rays; Solanum has star-shaped flowers with fused petals.
Frequently asked questions
Is Venegasia carpesioides native to California?
Yes. Venegasia carpesioides is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Venegasia carpesioides bloom?
Venegasia carpesioides blooms Generally Feb-Jul.
What plant family does Venegasia carpesioides belong to?
Venegasia carpesioides is in the Asteraceae family, genus Venegasia.
What habitat does Venegasia carpesioides grow in?
Venegasia carpesioides grows in Canyons, moist, wooded slopes.
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.