Taxon Report

Heterotheca sessiliflora Nuttall ssp. sessiliflora

beach goldenaster

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Taxon Summary

Heterotheca sessiliflora ssp. sessiliflora, commonly known as beach goldenaster, is a perennial herb in the Asteraceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Chaparral (coastal), Coastal dunes, and Coastal scrub, growing at elevations from 0 to 1225 meters. Heterotheca sessiliflora ssp. sessiliflora is ranked 1B.1, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Seriously threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Heterotheca sessiliflora Nuttall ssp. sessiliflora
Common Name:	beach goldenaster
Family:	Asteraceae
Element Code:	PDAST4V0K2
USDA Plants Symbol:	HESES2
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial herb
Blooming Period: Mar-Dec	Mar-Dec
Elevation:	0-1225 (0-4020)
General Habitats:	Chaparral, Coastal dunes, Coastal scrub
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.1
Global Rank:	G4T2T3
State Rank:	S1
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	SB_CalBG/RSABG; SB_CRES
CRPR Changes:	added to 1B.1 on 2007-06-14

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	19
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	0
Good (B)	2
Fair (C)	1
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	3
Unknown (U)	13

Location


California Endemic: False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
San Diego (SDG)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Del Mar (3211782), Encinitas (3311713), Imperial Beach (3211751), La Jolla (3211772), National City (3211761), Point Loma (3211762), Rancho Santa Fe (3311712)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	4
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	6	32 %
Development	4	21%
Non-native plant impacts	1	5%
ORV activity	1	5%
Other	1	5%

Notes



Known from fewer than 20 extant occurrences. Need quad for Santa Barbara County. See University of Waterloo Series 37: 1-164 for species account.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

CRPR List Addition on 2007-06-14

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 19 November 2025].