Gutierrezia californica is a species of flowering plant in the Asteraceae (Sunflower) family known by the common names San Joaquin snakeweed and California matchweed. It is native to California and Baja California, where it grows on slopes and plains in a number of habitats. It is found in the Coast Ranges, Transverse Range and Peninsular Range, coming fairly close to the coast in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego Counties. It is often seen in very arid settings. This is a small subshrub reaching up to about half a meter in height. It grows clumpy or gangly and generally erect stems in shades of gray and red which are lined with small linear green leaves. At the end of each branch of the stem is an flower cluster of one to three small flower heads just a few millimeters wide. The head contains several yellow disc florets with long, protruding styles and several yellow ray florets around the edge.