Eriophyllum confertiflorum – “Golden-Yarrow”

Also Known As: Yellow-Yarrow
Family: Sunflower (Asteraceae)
Bloom Period: Apr-Aug
Form: Perennial subshrub
Habitat: Sandy and gravelly soils
Leaves: Pinnately-compound into 3-5 linear leaflets; alternate
Translation: “Eriophyllum” is Greek for “woolly-leafed,” and refers to the woolly white hairs that cover the plant; “confertiflorum” is Latin for “crowded flowers,” which is an apt description.
Notes: Not a true Yarrow (which are in the Achillea genus), but so-called because the clusters of flowers bear a superficial resemblance.
Native American Uses: The Cahuilla roasted the seeds and ground them into flour.
Animal Associations: Nectar source for butterflies, including the Chalcedon Checkerspot and Sheridan’s Green Hairstreak.