Helianthella castanea is a rare plant endemic to California, and is found only in the San Francisco Bay Area, mostly in the hills east of the bay, including in Mount Diablo State Park, Wildcat Canyon Regional Park, Briones Regional Park, Las Trampas Regional Wilderness, and surrounding areas. Its common names include Mount Diablo helianthella, Mount Diablo sunflower, and Diablo rockrose.