Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

California Goldfields (Lasthenia californica) is a widespread species of flowering plant in the Asteraceae (Sunflower) family, among a number of species in the genus Lasthenia, all known by the common name goldfields. This species is native to a large part of California, Oregon, and surrounding areas, where it is a very common member of the flora in a number of habitat types.

This is an annual herb is quite variable in appearance across locations and climates. The leaves are hairy, somewhat linear in shape. Individuals growing along the coast may have fleshy leaves.

Atop the hairy stems are flower clusters of flower heads with hairy phyllaries (leaf-like structures at the base of the flower). The head contains many yellow disc florets with a fringe of small ray florets. Large populations of this species bloom at one time in the spring, producing the carpets of yellow on hillsides and in meadows that give the plant its common name. In the garden, it is most often grown from seed, which germinates readily.

Plant type

Annual herb

Size

6 - 16 in Tall
6 in Wide

Growth rate

Fast

Calscape icon
Color

Yellow

Flowering season

Winter, Spring

Special uses

Containers

Sun

Partial Shade, Full Sun

Water

Very Low, Low

Summer irrigation

Max 2x / month once established

Ease of care

Moderate

Soil drainage

Medium

Soil description

Variable.

Propagation

By seed

Sunset Zones

7*, 8*, 9*, 10*, 11, 12, 14*, 15*, 16*, 17*, 18*, 19*, 20*, 21*, 22*, 23*, 24*

Site type

Many settings including coastal prarie, meadows, flats, native grasslands, damp areas, woodland understory, along the immediate coast, Coast Ranges, and Sierra foothills

Plant communities

Coastal Prairie, Coastal Sage Scrub, Foothill Woodland, Northern Coastal Scrub, Northern Oak Woodland, Valley Grassland

Goldfields occurs with many other plants, but in the garden it is best used in a dense patch with other annuals such as Blue Gilia (Gilia capitata), Baby Blue-eyes (Nemophila menziesii), Clarkia spp., Lupines (Lupinus spp.), Checkerbloom (Sidalcea spp.), as well as succulents such as Dudleya spp. and Sedum spp.

Bees
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 1 likely

Confirmed Likely

Small Heliothodes Moth

Heliothodes diminutivus