Gutierrezia californica is a North American species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common names San Joaquin snakeweed and California matchweed.

[2][3][4] It grows in sunny sandy or rocky areas in grasslands, scrub, or open woodlands.

[5] This is a small subshrub reaching up to about half a meter (20 inches) in height.

It grows clumpy or gangly and generally erect stems in shades of gray and red which are lined with small linear green leaves.

[5] At the end of each branch of the stem is an inflorescence of one to three small flower heads just a few millimeters wide.