Antennaria marginata
White-margined everlasting, White-Margined Everlasting, white-margined everlasting, white-margined everlasting
no rights reserved · CC0
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3
Antennaria marginata (White-margined everlasting) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by unique white-margined leaves and restricted range.
White-margined everlasting is a rare (CNPS 2B.3) California native perennial found in the San Gorgonio Mountain and southern Fork Santa Ana River areas in dry woodland at elevations of 1,950 to 3,350 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces white flowers in heads 5 to 8 millimeters long, with distinctive white-tipped phyllaries. Growing with horizontal stolons and stems 15 to 18 centimeters tall, it forms low-spreading clusters. Its basal leaves are spoon-shaped, 15 to 20 millimeters long, with striking green surfaces and white-woolly margins, contrasting with gray-tomentose undersides. The plant has linear cauline leaves and produces small fruits 0.8 to 2 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species - unique white-margined leaves and restricted range
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry woodland
Elevation: 1950-3350 m
Outside California: to Colorado, Texas
Bloom period
Antennaria marginata blooms Jun-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.3
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 marginata native to California?
Yes. Antennaria marginata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Antennaria marginata bloom?
Antennaria marginata blooms Jun-Jul.
What plant family does Antennaria marginata belong to?
Antennaria marginata is in the Asteraceae family, genus Antennaria.
Is Antennaria marginata rare or endangered?
Antennaria marginata carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.3, state rank S1.
What habitat does Antennaria marginata grow in?
Antennaria marginata grows in dry woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.