CNPS

CNPS Rare Plant Inventory



Taxon Details

Hulsea californica

San Diego sunflower

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Photo of Hulsea californica
© 2015 Keir Morse 		Photo of Hulsea californica
© 2015 Keir Morse 		Photo of Hulsea californica
© 2015 Keir Morse

Taxon Summary:

Hulsea californica, commonly known as San Diego sunflower, is a perennial herb in the Asteraceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Chaparral, Lower montane coniferous forest, and Upper montane coniferous forest, growing at elevations from 915 to 2915 meters. Hulsea californica is ranked 1B.3, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Not very threatened in California.

  Classification

Scientific Name:
Hulsea californica T. & G.
Common Name:
San Diego sunflower
Family: Asteraceae
Element Code: PDAST4Z030
USDA Plants Symbol: HUCA
Synonyms/Other Names:
Name Status: JEF, FNA, POWO,
IPNI, Tropicos

  Conservation Status

CA Rare Plant Rank: 1B.3
Fed List: None
State List: None
Global Rank: G3
State Rank:
 S3
Other Status: BLM_S; SB_CalBG/RSABG; SB_CRES
CRPR Changes:
Add Date: 1974-01-01
Date Edited: 2022-12-06

  Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: perennial herb
Blooming Period: Apr-Jun
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Elevation:
915 - 2915 meters
3000 - 9565 feet
General Habitats:
  • Chaparral
  • Lower montane coniferous forest
  • Upper montane coniferous forest
Microhabitat Details:
Microhabitat:
  • Burned areas
  • Openings

  Notes

Notes:
Threatened by non-native plants. Possibly threatened by fire suppression, recreational activities, and vehicles. See Report of the Pacific Railroad Expedition 6:77 (1858) for original description, and Brittonia 27(3):228-244 (1975) for taxonomic treatment.
Threats:
Taxonomy:

  Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 6
Total EOs % of EOs
EOs with Threat Listed: 8 11 %
THREAT LIST:
Development 2 2%
Non-native plant impacts 2 2%
Other 2 2%
Road/trail construction/maint. 2 2%
ORV activity 1 1%

  Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Total Occurrences: 70
Element Occurrence Ranks:
A B C D X U
2 3 6 0 0 59
Occurrence Status:
Historical >20 Years 34
Recent <=20 Years 36
Presence:
Presumed Extant 70
Possibly Extirpated 0
Presumed Extirpated 0

  Location

California Endemic:
California Island:
States: Name (Code)
California (CA)
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Riverside (RIV), San Diego (SDG)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Aguanga (3311647), Barrett Lake (3211666), Boucher Hill (3311638), Bucksnort Mtn. (3311645), Campo (3211654), Cuyamaca Peak (3211685), Descanso (3211675), Hot Springs Mtn. (3311635), Julian (3311615), Live Oak Springs (3211663), Monument Peak (3211684), Morena Reservoir (3211665), Mount Laguna (3211674), Palomar Observatory (3311637), Ranchita (3311625), Santa Ysabel (3311616), Sombrero Peak (3211673), Tecate (3211656), Vail Lake (3311648), Viejas Mountain (3211676), Warner Springs (3311636), Warners Ranch (3311626)
Notes:
Definitions of codes following a county and/or quad:
* Presumed extirpated
(?) Occurrence confirmed, but possibly extirpated
Quad and county data is imported from the CNDDB. Species may be present in other areas where conditions are favorable. These data should NOT be substituted for pre-project review or for on-site surveys.
Regional Map

  Map

Presumed Extant
Click on quad for name. Hold Shift Key to use mouse scroll wheel

  Selected References

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Suggested Citation:
California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 6 February 2025].
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