Wyethia elata
Hall's wyethia, Hall's Wyethia
(c) Ryan Donnelly, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Wyethia elata (Hall's wyethia) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by differentiated by tall stature, soft-hairy texture, and large rays.
Hall's wyethia is a California native perennial found in central Sierra Nevada Mountains in open woodland and forest at elevations of 500 to 1,400 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces yellow ray flowers 50 to 60 millimeters long with distinctive yellow disk centers. Growing with erect, generally branched stems 50 to 100 centimeters tall that are densely soft-hairy, it forms an impressive meadow or woodland perennial. Its leaves are lance-ovate to triangular-ovate, 8 to 20 centimeters long, with a base that is obtuse to heart-shaped and covered in short soft hairs. The distinctive flower heads are hemispheric, with 10 to 14 ray flowers and phyllaries 25 to 35 millimeters long that are lanceolate to ovate in shape.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species - differentiated by tall stature, soft-hairy texture, and large rays
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open woodland, forest
Elevation: 500-1400 m
Bloom period
Wyethia elata blooms May-Aug(Oct).
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
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 elata native to California?
Yes. Wyethia elata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Wyethia elata bloom?
Wyethia elata blooms May-Aug(Oct).
What plant family does Wyethia elata belong to?
Wyethia elata is in the Asteraceae family, genus Wyethia.
Is Wyethia elata rare or endangered?
Wyethia elata carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S4.
What habitat does Wyethia elata grow in?
Wyethia elata grows in Open woodland, forest.
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.