Xylorhiza orcuttii
Orcutt's woody-aster
(c) W. Terry Hunefeld, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Xylorhiza orcuttii (Orcutt's woody-aster) is a native California shrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by sessile heads and glabrous phyllaries.
Orcutt's woody-aster is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native shrub found in southern Desert of Colorado sections in arid canyons and creosote-bush scrub at elevations below 400 meters. Flowering from January to May, this plant produces lavender or light blue ray flowers 1.2 to 3.2 centimeters long with distinctive ray heads. Growing to 1.5 meters tall with generally glabrous stems, it forms a compact shrubby structure. Its leaves are oblanceolate to oblong, 2 to 6 centimeters long, with obtuse or acute tips that are sometimes spiny-dentate or entirely smooth. The flower heads contain 25 to 40 ray flowers and 55 to 140 disk flowers, creating a delicate lavender-blue display across its desert habitat.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; distinguished by sessile heads and glabrous phyllaries
Habitat and range
Habitat: Arid canyons, barren slopes; creosote-bush scrub
Elevation: < 400 m
Bloom period
Xylorhiza orcuttii blooms Jan-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
How to tell it apart
vs Erigeron: Erigeron has many thin rays in multiple rows, not fewer wide rays in one row; vs Corethrogyne: Corethrogyne has brown pappus and sterile rays; Xylorhiza has white pappus and fertile rays; vs Dieteria: Dieteria has smaller heads (under 3cm) and herbaceous stems, not woody bases; vs Trixis: Trixis has all tubular yellow flowers pointing one direction, not radial daisy heads; vs Isocoma: Isocoma lacks ray flowers entirely, having only yellow disk flowers
Frequently asked questions
Is Xylorhiza orcuttii native to California?
Yes. Xylorhiza orcuttii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Xylorhiza orcuttii bloom?
Xylorhiza orcuttii blooms Jan-May.
What plant family does Xylorhiza orcuttii belong to?
Xylorhiza orcuttii is in the Asteraceae family, genus Xylorhiza.
Is Xylorhiza orcuttii rare or endangered?
Xylorhiza orcuttii carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S3.
What habitat does Xylorhiza orcuttii grow in?
Xylorhiza orcuttii grows in Arid canyons, barren slopes; creosote-bush scrub.
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.