Verbesina dissita
Big-leaved crownbeard
(c) Sula Vanderplank, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1 · Threatened
Verbesina dissita (Big-leaved crownbeard) is a native California subshrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by Only Verbesina species native to California, highly restricted range.
Big-leaved crownbeard is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native perennial found in southern coastal California, including Orange County and the San Bernardino Mountains, on shrubby coastal slopes at elevations below 200 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces distinctive orange-yellow ray flowers 12 to 25 millimeters long in flat-topped clusters with 3 to 16 flower heads. Growing 1 to 1.5 meters tall with glabrous stems that may be short-hairy near the flower clusters, it develops generally opposite leaves with ovate blades that are entire or have a few short teeth. Its leaves are glabrous to densely scabrous, ranging from green to rough-textured with a single prominent vein from the base. The fruit is dark brown, approximately 8 to 9 millimeters long, with a thin brown wing and two short awns.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Only Verbesina species native to California, highly restricted range
Habitat and range
Habitat: shrubby coastal slopes
Elevation: < 200 m
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Verbesina dissita blooms May-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1 · Threatened
Frequently asked questions
Is Verbesina dissita native to California?
Yes. Verbesina dissita is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Verbesina dissita bloom?
Verbesina dissita blooms May-Aug.
What plant family does Verbesina dissita belong to?
Verbesina dissita is in the Asteraceae family, genus Verbesina.
Is Verbesina dissita rare or endangered?
Verbesina dissita carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S1.
What habitat does Verbesina dissita grow in?
Verbesina dissita grows in shrubby coastal slopes.
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.