[2][3][4] Encelia californica is a bushy shrub that reaches between 50–150  cm (20-60 inches) in height.

It has many thin branches covered in widely spaced green leaves which are a rounded diamond shape.

The solitary flower heads are daisy like, with 15 to 25 bright yellow ray florets 1 to 3 centimeters long around a center of protruding yellowish to purplish brown disc florets.

It blooms from February to June, and attracts butterflies, bees, and other insects.

[5] It is a host plant for the larvae of the Bay checkerspot butterfly, a threatened species.