Antennaria rosea subsp. rosea
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Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Antennaria rosea subsp. rosea is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by larger size and non-brown phyllaries vs subsp. confinis.
Rosy pussytoes is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, high Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, San Gabriel Mountains, San Bernardino Mountains, San Jacinto Mountains, and Great Basin in woodland, meadow edges, rock barrens, and dry ridges at elevations of 1,200 to 3,700 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces white to pink flowers in compact heads 6 to 20 millimeters long. Growing with decumbent stolons and stems 10 to 40 centimeters tall, it forms low-spreading clusters across alpine and subalpine landscapes. Its leaf rosettes feature elongated leaves 20 to 40 millimeters long, with smaller cauline leaves 8 to 36 millimeters in length. The delicate flower clusters have involucres 5 to 8 millimeters wide, with pale phyllaries creating a soft, clustered appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 17 sympatric species - larger size and non-brown phyllaries vs subsp. confinis
Habitat and range
Habitat: Woodland, meadow edges, rock barrens, dry ridges
Elevation: 1200-3700 m
Outside California: to Alaska, northern Canada, Michigan, Colorado
Bloom period
Antennaria rosea subsp. rosea blooms Jun-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 rosea subsp. rosea native to California?
Yes. Antennaria rosea subsp. rosea is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Antennaria rosea subsp. rosea bloom?
Antennaria rosea subsp. rosea blooms Jun-Aug.
What plant family does Antennaria rosea subsp. rosea belong to?
Antennaria rosea subsp. rosea is in the Asteraceae family, genus Antennaria.
What habitat does Antennaria rosea subsp. rosea grow in?
Antennaria rosea subsp. rosea grows in Woodland, meadow edges, rock barrens, dry ridges.
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.