Amphipappus fremontii var. fremontii
Fremont's chaff bush
Photo: parent species Amphipappus fremontii · (c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Amphipappus fremontii var. fremontii (Fremont's chaff bush) is a native California shrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by . Distinguished by elevation range < 1100m and ne DMoj distribution.
Fremont's chaff bush is a California native shrub found in the northeastern Mojave Desert on rocky or gravelly flats, slopes, and canyons at elevations below 1,100 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces small, pale flowers clustered in compact arrangements. Growing with multiple branching stems up to one meter tall, it develops a dense, rounded form typical of desert shrubs. Its leaves are small, narrow, and closely arranged along the stems, providing an adaptation to arid environments. The shrub's compact growth and pale flowers make it well-suited to surviving in harsh desert conditions.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated with 0 sympatric species. Distinguished by elevation range < 1100m and ne DMoj distribution.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky or gravelly flats, slopes, canyons
Elevation: < 1100 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Inyo
Outside California: Nevada
Bloom period
Amphipappus fremontii var. fremontii blooms Mar-Jun.
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 var. fremontii native to California?
Yes. Amphipappus fremontii var. fremontii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Amphipappus fremontii var. fremontii bloom?
Amphipappus fremontii var. fremontii blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Amphipappus fremontii var. fremontii grow?
Amphipappus fremontii var. fremontii occurs in San Bernardino, Inyo, at elevations of < 1100 m.
What plant family does Amphipappus fremontii var. fremontii belong to?
Amphipappus fremontii var. fremontii is in the Asteraceae family, genus Amphipappus.
What habitat does Amphipappus fremontii var. fremontii grow in?
Amphipappus fremontii var. fremontii grows in Rocky or gravelly flats, slopes, canyons.
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.