San Diego Wirelettuce
Stephanomeria diegensis · Asteraceae
- Form
- Annual herb
- Height
- 1-3 ft
- Sun
- Full Sun
- Water
- Very Low
- Blooms
- Apr, May, Jun, Jul
- Habitat
- Coastal Sage Scrub · Chaparral · Disturbed
🌿 California native
Quick facts
- Habitat: Open Coastal Sage Scrub, dry slopes, and disturbed openings
- Form / size: Wiry annual, usually 1-3 ft
- Sun: Full sun · Water: Very low
- Blooms: Spring-summer · Pollinator value: Moderate
Description
A delicate-looking but tough wildflower with thin branching stems, sparse narrow leaves, and small pink-lavender dandelion-like flower heads. It often reads as airy and wiry, especially later in the season when most of the visual weight is in the branching stems and flower tips.
Wildlife & pollinators
Visited by small native bees and other pollinating insects. Its open habit helps it weave through scrub without casting much shade.
Habitat & range
Openings in coastal sage scrub and dry foothill vegetation in Southern California, often on disturbed or sandy ground where competition is low.
In the garden
Works best in lean, dry native plantings where annuals are allowed to reseed. It looks most natural mixed with other spring annuals and small scrub perennials.
Propagation
From seed. Let some plants finish and drop seed if you want it to return.
Where to see it near you
- iNaturalist — observed in Southern California
- Open scrub, dry banks, and low-competition disturbed ground.
Problems
Not a problem plant. It can disappear in years with heavy competition, mowing, or dense weed cover.
