Antennaria howellii subsp. howellii
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Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Antennaria howellii subsp. howellii is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by large bicolored leaves and geographic restriction to Klamath.
Howell's pussy-toe is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges in open pine woodland and rocky slopes at elevations of 1,300 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces white flower heads in small clusters 5 to 12 millimeters long. Growing with slender stems 15 to 30 centimeters tall and producing short stolons up to 4 centimeters long, it forms low-growing clusters. Its basal leaves are distinctive, measuring 25 to 40 millimeters long, oblanceolate to spoon-shaped, green on top and woolly underneath. The plant produces small fruits 1.5 to 2 millimeters long with a delicate white pappus.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species - large bicolored leaves and geographic restriction to Klamath
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, pine woodland, rocky slopes
Elevation: 1300-2000 m
Outside California: to western Canada, Wisconsin, Colorado
Bloom period
Antennaria howellii subsp. howellii blooms Jul-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Pseudognaphalium: Antennaria forms low cushions with persistent basal rosettes; Pseudognaphalium grows erect to 200 cm without basal rosettes.; vs Eriogonum: Antennaria has papery-bracted flower heads in the Asteraceae; Eriogonum has showy flowers with papery bracts in the buckwheat family.; vs Anaphalis: Antennaria maintains its basal leaf rosette during flowering; Anaphalis has withered basal leaves with longer, uniform stem leaves.; vs Centaurea: Antennaria has tiny woolly heads (3-9mm) in low cushions; Centaurea has much larger flower heads (15-40mm) on tall stems.; vs Petrophytum: Antennaria has papery-bracted flower heads; Petrophytum has dense spikes of small rose-family flowers with 5 separate petals.
Frequently asked questions
Is Antennaria howellii subsp. howellii native to California?
Yes. Antennaria howellii subsp. howellii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Antennaria howellii subsp. howellii bloom?
Antennaria howellii subsp. howellii blooms Jul-Aug.
What plant family does Antennaria howellii subsp. howellii belong to?
Antennaria howellii subsp. howellii is in the Asteraceae family, genus Antennaria.
What habitat does Antennaria howellii subsp. howellii grow in?
Antennaria howellii subsp. howellii grows in Open, pine woodland, rocky slopes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.