Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Hemizonia congesta is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common name hayfield tarweed. It is native to California and Oregon, where it is a common member of the flora in a number of habitats, particularly grasslands and fields. This is a spindly, thin-stemmed annual herb growing erect to 10 to 80 centimeters in height. Like other tarweeds the stem and foliage are hairy and have an odor reminiscent of tar. Most of the long, narrow, pointed leaves are located on the lower portion of the stem below the branching. The flower clusters are covered in hairy hairs and hold daisylike flower heads. Each head has a center of yellowish dark-tipped disc florets and a fringe of bright yellow to white ray florets, often with purplish striping on the undersides. The ray florets are toothed or lobed on the tips, with the middle tooth thinner than the others. There are many subspecies which can vary in appearance.

Plant type

Annual herb

Size

4 - 31 in Tall

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Color

White, Yellow

Flowering season

Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall

Sun

Full Sun

Water

Low

Site type

Open, grassy places

Plant communities

Foothill Woodland, Northern Coastal Scrub, Southern Oak Woodland, Valley Grassland

Bees
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 2 likely

Confirmed Likely

Cyclophora dataria

Spotted Straw Sun Moth

Heliothis phloxiphaga