| Helianthus californicus is a tall perennial with thick, woody roots which according to the Jepson Manual grows from 5' to 11' high. The one I photographed was about 7' tall. The stems are glabrous, glaucous and grooved, and the leaves, which are generally lanceolate with acute tips and entire or few-toothed margins, are mostly alternate in the upper part of the stems but often opposite below. They are also rough-hairy to bristly on the lower surface and gland-dotted. 3-10 heads arise from each inflorescence, and the lanceolate, acuminate phyllaries are generally greater than the disk and reflexed at maturity. There are 12-21 ray flowers and the disk flowers have yellow lobes. This species typically inhabits springy areas, marshes, streambanks, canyons, and boggy meadows to about 6000' in chaparral and valley grassland, and in southern California has been vouchered mostly in San Diego, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. It blooms from July to October. |
