Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Heterotheca sessiliflora is a species of flowering plant in the Asteraceae (Sunflower) family known by the common name False Goldenaster. It is native to California and Baja California, where it grows primarily along the coast, in the foothills and mountains, in many types of habitat. This is a perennial herb which is quite variable in appearance. There are four recognized subspecies which vary in morphology and geographic range. Depending on subspecies and location, it may be a small clumping or mat-forming plant or grow tall stems to heights exceeding a meter. It may appear as an annual or perennial herb. It is coated in small bristles or long woolly hairs and it is hairy, particularly around the flower cluster. The flower head contains long yellowish disc florets and the edge is fringed with yellow ray florets. Its most outstanding feature is nearly year-round flowering.

Plant type

Annual herb, Perennial herb

Size

2 - 4 ft Tall

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Color

Yellow

Flowering season

Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall

Special uses

Groundcover

Sun

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Water

Low, Moderate

Soil drainage

Fast, Medium

Soil description

Usually found in sand but tolerates garden soil.

Site type

Dunes and grassy places, canyons, foothills and mountain slopes primarily in the Coast Ranges

Plant communities

Chaparral, Coastal Sage Scrub, Foothill Woodland, Joshua Tree Woodland, Mixed Evergreen Forest, Northern Coastal Scrub, Red Fir Forest, Sagebrush Scrub, Valley Grassland, Yellow Pine Forest

Bees
Butterflies

Pollinators supported

27 confirmed and 134 likely

  • Likely

  • Confirmed

Texas Striped Sweat Bee

Agapostemon texanus

Urban Digger Bee

Anthophora urbana

Ashmeadiella aridula

Big-cheeked Mason Bee

Ashmeadiella bucconis

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Asparagus

Asparagus officinalis

Chicory

Cichorium intybus

Cotton

Gossypium

Sunflower

Helianthus annuus