Taxon Report

Helianthus nuttallii T. & G. ssp. parishii (Gray) Heiser

Los Angeles sunflower

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Helianthus nuttallii ssp. parishii, commonly known as Los Angeles sunflower, is a perennial rhizomatous herb in the Asteraceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Marshes and swamps (freshwater, and coastal salt), growing at elevations from 10 to 1525 meters. Helianthus nuttallii ssp. parishii is ranked 1A, Plants Presumed Extirpated in California and Either Rare or Extinct Elsewhere.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Helianthus nuttallii T. & G. ssp. parishii (Gray) Heiser
Common Name:	Los Angeles sunflower
Family:	Asteraceae
Element Code:	PDAST4N102
USDA Plants Symbol:	HENUP
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial rhizomatous herb
Blooming Period: Aug-Oct	Aug-Oct
Elevation:	10-1525 (35-5005)
General Habitats:	Marshes and swamps
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1A
Global Rank:	G5TX
State Rank:	SX
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	7
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	0
Good (B)	0
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	5
Unknown (U)	2

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Los Angeles (LAX), Orange (ORA), San Bernardino (SBD)*
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Hollywood (3411813), Los Angeles (3411812), Newport Beach (3311768), Pasadena (3411822), San Bernardino South (3411713), Seal Beach (3311861), Telegraph Peak (3411735), Tustin (3311767)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	2
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	5	71 %
Development	5	71%
Altered flood/tidal/hydrologic regime	1	14%

Notes



Last seen in 1937. Extirpated by urbanization. See Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 14:7 (1883) for original description, and Memoirs of the Torrey Botanical Club 22(3):147-152 (1969) for taxonomic treatment.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 28 October 2025].