Flower profile
Common woolly sunflower
Eriophyllum lanatum
Common woolly sunflower (Eriophyllum lanatum) is a low shrub in the Asteraceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly May–July across the U.S.
Common woolly sunflower is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Oregon it's most often seen in bloom in May–July.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Oregon
Quick look
Eriophyllum lanatum, with the common names common woolly sunflower, Oregon sunshine and golden yarrow, is a common, widespread, North American plant in the family Asteraceae.
- It belongs to the Asteraceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) / a subshrub with a annual, perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 8 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to Oregon. NatureServe
- In Oregon, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–July. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 3,980 research-grade sightings of it in Oregon, ranking #37 among the 184 flowers on our Oregon list. iNaturalist
When does it bloom?
In Oregon, most flowering sightings come in May–July.
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
- Oregon
- Not listed Not on Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Oregon. OAR 603-073-0070
- Rare elsewhere
- Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: UT (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.
It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records common woolly sunflower in 8 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.
Oregon counties with USDA records: Baker, Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Coos, Crook, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lake, Lane, Linn, Malheur, Marion, Morrow, Multnomah, Polk, Sherman, Tillamook, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, Washington, Wheeler, Yamhill.
Names, range and relatives
Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.
County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 183 counties across 8 states; the most are in California (49), Washington (37), Oregon (34).
Other Eriophyllum on Bloomipedia (1): Golden yarrow.
More from the Asteraceae family (212 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Common yarrow, Goldenrods, White snakeroot, Sunflowers, Chicory, Black-eyed Susan, Bull thistle, Common dandelion.
More Oregon flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile ERLA6.
- iNaturalist, Eriophyllum lanatum: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Eriophyllum lanatum (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Oregon: Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070).
- Oregon: Oregon noxious weed quarantine, A and B weeds (OAR 603-052-1200).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Eriophyllum lanatum (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
- Photo: David Anderson via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.