Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Leptosyne maritima (Sea Dahlia or Beach Coreopsis) is a rare plant species in the Asteraceae (Sunflower) family. It was formerly included in the genus Coreopsis and some sources still refer to it by that name. This species is a perennial that grows 10-40 centimeters tall but sometimes to 80 centimeters (4 to 32 inches), from a fleshy taproot. The stems are hollow, fragile and often floppy. Plants bloom in late winter to early summer, with normally one or two flower heads per stem, on 15 to 30 centimeters long peduncles, but sometimes 4 or more flowers can be found per stem. It has foliage that is lobed and mostly linear in shape with lobes that are 5-30 millimeters long and 1-2 millimeters wide. The 12-20 millimeter long flower phyllaries number 12-13, sometimes more, and they are lance-shaped. Flower heads typically have 16-21 ray florets, and the laminae are 20-35+ millimeters long. The disc corollas are 5.5-7 millimeters long. Fruits are 6-7 millimeters long and oblong-rectangular in shape. Leptosyne maritima is native to a very small area of southern California and Baja California, where it typically grows on ocean bluffs and dunes at elevations under 100 ft.

Plant type

Annual herb, Succulent

Size

4 - 31 in Tall
3 ft Wide

Growth rate

Moderate

Dormancy

Summer Semi-deciduous

Fragrance

None

Calscape icon
Color

Yellow

Flowering season

Spring

Sun

Full Sun

Water

Very Low, Low, Moderate

Ease of care

Moderate

Cold tolerance

Tolerates cold to 35° F

Soil drainage

Fast, Medium

Soil description

Prefers sand or sandstone.
Soil PH: 6.0 - 7.0

Site type

Seabluffs and dunes of the south coast as part of coastal strand and coastal sage scrub

Plant communities

Coastal Sage Scrub

Bees
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 2 likely

Confirmed Likely

Orange Tortrix Moth

Argyrotaenia franciscana

Wavy-Lined Emerald

Synchlora aerata