Antennaria luzuloides subsp. luzuloides
Photo: parent species Antennaria luzuloides · (c) J Straka, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Antennaria luzuloides subsp. luzuloides is a native California subshrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by large flat-topped inflorescence with many heads.
pearly cudweed is a California native perennial found in northern Sierra Nevada Mountains, Modoc Plateau in dry meadows and lower montane forest drainages at elevations of 1,200 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces white flowers in flat-topped, clustered heads with 10 to 110 individual flower heads. Growing with slender stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it forms dense tufted clusters in alpine and montane environments. Its basal leaves are distinctively narrow, linear to oblanceolate, measuring 1 to 10 millimeters wide and creating a delicate ground-hugging profile. The small fruits are papillate and approximately 1 to 2 millimeters long, with characteristic pappus bristles 3 to 4 millimeters in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 12 sympatric species - large flat-topped inflorescence with many heads
Habitat and range
Habitat: +- dry meadows, drainages in lower montane forest
Elevation: 1200-2000 m
Outside California: to southwestern Canada, Montana, South Dakota, Colorado
Bloom period
Antennaria luzuloides subsp. luzuloides blooms May-Jul.
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 luzuloides subsp. luzuloides native to California?
Yes. Antennaria luzuloides subsp. luzuloides is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Antennaria luzuloides subsp. luzuloides bloom?
Antennaria luzuloides subsp. luzuloides blooms May-Jul.
What plant family does Antennaria luzuloides subsp. luzuloides belong to?
Antennaria luzuloides subsp. luzuloides is in the Asteraceae family, genus Antennaria.
What habitat does Antennaria luzuloides subsp. luzuloides grow in?
Antennaria luzuloides subsp. luzuloides grows in +- dry meadows, drainages in lower montane forest.
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.