Amphipappus fremontii
Chaffbush
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Amphipappus fremontii (Chaffbush) is a native California shrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by Only *Amphipappus* in CA; low intricate shrub, thorny leafless stems, small radiate heads; E Mojave.
Chaffbush is a California native shrub found in desert and interior mountain habitats at elevations where arid landscapes dominate. Flowering from spring to early summer, this plant produces delicate yellow ray flowers in small clusters of 2 to 4 heads, with white or pale green involucres. Growing to less than 2 meters tall with widely spreading branches, it forms a distinctive white and gray-colored shrub with thorny leafless stems. Its alternate leaves are small, less than 2 centimeters long, with obovate or elliptic shapes in light yellow or gray-green coloration. The plant's fruit is characterized by ray fruits under 3 millimeters long, accompanied by a pappus of 15 to 20 stout bristles fused at the base.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Only *Amphipappus* in CA; low intricate shrub, thorny leafless stems, small radiate heads; E Mojave
How to tell it apart
vs Arctotheca: Arctotheca has deeply lobed leaves; Amphipappus has entire spoon-shaped leaves.; vs Heteranthemis: Heteranthemis has dissected leaves; Amphipappus has simple entire leaves.; vs Gutierrezia: Gutierrezia has narrow linear grass-like leaves; Amphipappus has broader spoon-shaped leaves.; vs Grindelia: Grindelia has gummy sticky flower heads; Amphipappus is only slightly resinous.; vs Stenotus: Stenotus has narrow linear leaves; Amphipappus has broader elliptic to spoon-shaped leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Amphipappus fremontii native to California?
Yes. Amphipappus fremontii is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Amphipappus fremontii belong to?
Amphipappus fremontii is in the Asteraceae family, genus Amphipappus.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.