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Native Plant Database

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Lasthenia californica (California goldfields)
Bransford, W.D. and Dolphia

Lasthenia californica DC. ex Lindl.

California goldfields

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Synonyms: Baeria chrysostoma var. gracilis

USDA Symbol: laca7

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

A low, slightly pubescent, slender, unbranched annual, 2-6 in. tall, with threadlike leaves and small, yellow, radiate flowers. A small, slender annual with reddish stems, very narrow opposite leaves, and a small golden-yellow flower head at the end of each branch. In better soils, the plant is stouter and reaches 10 in. in height.

On open areas with poor soils, where grass is sparse, this plant will form carpets of gold if moisture is ample. It is also sometimes placed in the genus Baeria. Spring Gold (Crocidium multicaule) looks very much like Goldfields, but has most leaves in a basal rosette. Those on the stem are alternate, and have tufts of hair in the axils.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Annual
Habit: Herb
Flower:
Fruit:
Size Class: 0-1 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA , MA , NM , OR
Native Distribution: OR to AZ
Native Habitat: Open mesas & grasslands
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Description: Dry clays or sands.
Conditions Comments: This annual carpets stretches of open desert following wet winters.

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Lasthenia californica in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Lasthenia californica in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Lasthenia californica

Metadata

Record Modified: 2007-01-01
Research By: TWC Staff

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