Wyethia angustifolia
California compassplant
(c) Ed Alverson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Wyethia angustifolia (California compassplant) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by differentiated by narrow leaves and long peduncles.
California compassplant is a native perennial found in northwestern California, the northern Sierra Nevada Foothills, Sierra Nevada, Central Valley, central western California, and the Modoc Plateau in grassland habitats at elevations below 2,050 meters. Flowering from April to August, this plant produces yellow ray flowers 15 to 45 millimeters long in large heads up to 4 centimeters wide. Growing 30 to 90 centimeters tall with rough-hairy stems, it develops a robust, upright form with distinctive foliage. Its basal leaves are 10 to 50 centimeters long, lance-linear to oblanceolate, with a rough, sometimes varnished-looking surface that is short-strigose or scabrous. The plant produces fruits 7 to 8 millimeters long with 1 to 4 awn-tipped scales.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 8 sympatric species - differentiated by narrow leaves and long peduncles
Habitat and range
Habitat: Grassland
Elevation: < 2050 m
Outside California: to Washington
Bloom period
Wyethia angustifolia blooms Apr-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Helianthella: Wyethia has leaves scattered up the stem while Helianthella leaves are mostly basal or opposite.; vs Balsamorhiza: Wyethia has several leaves climbing the stem; Balsamorhiza leaves are nearly all at ground level.; vs Agnorhiza: Wyethia has large 8-12mm disk flowers; Agnorhiza disk flowers are much smaller.; vs Helianthus: Wyethia has very large disk flowers (8-12mm) and broader leaves; Helianthus has smaller disk flowers.; vs Gazania: Wyethia is a robust native perennial with scattered stem leaves; Gazania is a low garden escape.
Frequently asked questions
Is Wyethia angustifolia native to California?
Yes. Wyethia angustifolia is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Wyethia angustifolia bloom?
Wyethia angustifolia blooms Apr-Aug.
What plant family does Wyethia angustifolia belong to?
Wyethia angustifolia is in the Asteraceae family, genus Wyethia.
What habitat does Wyethia angustifolia grow in?
Wyethia angustifolia grows in Grassland.
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.