Click on image to enlarge. Common groundsel is an early season weed in most areas, but can grow all year in coastal areas of California. Seed leaves of groundsel are elongate, with a blunt, rounded tip. Groundsel grows up to 60 cm tall.
Leaves are alternate on the stem and deeply indented.
Upper leaves are attached directly to the stem, but lower leaves have a short petiole. The green bracts surrounding the flower cluster have conspicuous black tips that distinguish groundsel from other weeds in the thistle family. Broadleaf ID illustration. The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.