Xylorhiza tortifolia
Mojave-aster
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Family: Asteraceae (Compositae) · Type: Subshrub · Native
Xylorhiza tortifolia (Mojave-aster) is a native California subshrub in the Asteraceae (Compositae) family, recognized by widespread Mojave 'aster'; herbaceous subshrub from a woody caudex, glandular + long-hairy — vs true-shrub congeners.
Mojave-aster is a California native perennial herb or subshrub found in the southern Sierra Nevada East and Desert bioregions on desert slopes, canyons, and woodland, and in creosote-bush and saltbush scrub at elevations from 240 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from March to June and again in October, it grows from a much-branched caudex with linear to lanceolate, spiny-dentate leaves that are soft-hairy and glandular, and produces heads with soft-hairy, glandular phyllaries.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: widespread Mojave 'aster'; herbaceous subshrub from a woody caudex, glandular + long-hairy — vs true-shrub congeners
Habitat and range
Habitat: Desert slopes, canyons, woodland, creosote-bush and saltbush scrub
Elevation: 240--2000 m
Outside California: to southwestern Utah, western Arizona
Bloom period
Xylorhiza tortifolia blooms Mar--Jun, Oct.
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 tortifolia native to California?
Yes. Xylorhiza tortifolia is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Xylorhiza tortifolia bloom?
Xylorhiza tortifolia blooms Mar--Jun, Oct.
What plant family does Xylorhiza tortifolia belong to?
Xylorhiza tortifolia is in the Asteraceae (Compositae) family, genus Xylorhiza.
What habitat does Xylorhiza tortifolia grow in?
Xylorhiza tortifolia grows in Desert slopes, canyons, woodland, creosote-bush and saltbush scrub.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Xylorhiza tortifolia var. tortifolia — Mojave-aster
- Xylorhiza cognata — Mecca-aster
- Xylorhiza orcuttii — Orcutt's woody-aster
- Xylorhiza panamintensis — Panamint desert-aster
- Xylorhiza sp. — Desert-aster
- Symphyotrichum occidentale — Western mountain aster
- Symphyotrichum occidentale var. occidentale
- Verbesina encelioides
- Verbesina encelioides subsp. exauriculata — Golden crownbeard
Sources: Jepson eFlora
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.