California Goldfields
ExplorePlants
California Goldfields
lasthenia californica
California Goldfields (Lasthenia californica) is a cheerful, low-growing annual wildflower native to the open grasslands, coastal bluffs, and vernal pool margins of western North America. During early spring, these resilient plants carpet entire hillsides and valleys in a dazzling blanket of bright, golden-yellow blooms. This spectacular display is not only a visual marvel but also a vital ecological event, signaling the peak of spring and drawing in a multitude of native pollinators. Extremely adaptable, the species often thrives in poor, clay-heavy, or serpentine soils where other plants struggle. Its rapid life cycle allows it to germinate, bloom, set seed, and die back before the harsh, dry summer heat sets in, making it a master of drought avoidance.
Habitat: Found in open, sunny habitats including grasslands, oak woodlands, coastal scrub, vernal pools, and areas with clay or serpentine soils.
Appearance
California Goldfields are small, slender annual herbs growing up to 10 to 40 cm tall. They feature hairy, reddish-green stems holding narrow, opposite linear leaves that are sometimes deeply lobed. The plant is topped by small, daisy-like flower heads, roughly 1 to 2 cm in diameter, composed of both bright yellow ray florets and matching yellow central disk florets. Each flower head is cradled by a cup of green bracts. When growing in mass, they create dense, vibrant yellow carpets that are easily recognizable from a distance.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderAsteralesFamilyAsteraceaeGenusLasthenia
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
During massive spring 'superblooms', California Goldfields can grow so densely that their bright yellow sheets of color are visible from orbiting satellites.
Indigenous Californian peoples, such as the Miwok, historically harvested the tiny, abundant seeds of this plant to grind into a nutritious food meal called pinole.
The genus name Lasthenia is named after Lasthenia of Mantinea, an ancient Greek woman who dressed as a man in order to study philosophy under Plato.
Special abilities
Ability
Serpentine Soil Tolerance
Able to thrive in harsh serpentine soils high in heavy metals and low in essential nutrients where competing plants cannot survive.
Ability
Drought-Evading Life Cycle
Completes its entire life cycle rapidly during the damp spring months, setting hardy seeds before the dry summer drought begins.
Ability
UV Bee Guides
Flowers feature ultraviolet patterns invisible to humans but highly visible to bees, directing pollinators straight to the nectar.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 10-40 cm
- Lifespan
- 0-1 years
Diet & Feeding
As a photosynthetic plant, California Goldfields produces its own food using sunlight, carbon dioxide, water, and soil nutrients.
Primary Foods
- Sunlight
- Carbon dioxide
- Water
- Soil minerals
Foraging Method
- Photosynthesis
Ecological connections
mutualism
Bay Checkerspot Butterfly
Euphydryas editha bayensis
Adult butterflies rely heavily on the nectar of California Goldfields as a primary energy source during their spring flight season.
mutualism
Mining Bee
Andrena
Solitary mining bees forage heavily on the pollen and nectar, acting as highly effective pollinators.
Traits
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Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
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Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify California Goldfields?
The easiest way to identify California Goldfields is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How long is California Goldfields?
10-40 cm
How long does California Goldfields live?
0-1 years
What does California Goldfields eat?
As a photosynthetic plant, California Goldfields produces its own food using sunlight, carbon dioxide, water, and soil nutrients.
Where is California Goldfields usually found?
Found in open, sunny habitats including grasslands, oak woodlands, coastal scrub, vernal pools, and areas with clay or serpentine soils.
How does California Goldfields hunt?
Photosynthesis
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