Antennaria sawyeri
Sawyer's pussy- toes, Sawyer's pussy-toes, Sawyer's pussy-toes
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Antennaria sawyeri (Sawyer's pussy- toes) is a native California perennial in the Asteraceae family, recognized by long-acuminate brown leaf tips and serpentine habitat.
Sawyer's pussy-toes is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in the eastern Trinity Alps of the Klamath Ranges in open, subalpine serpentine slopes and ridges at elevations of 2,075 to 2,430 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces white flowers in compact heads of 3 to 6 clusters. Growing with cespitose stems 6.5 to 11 centimeters tall, it has a woody base and forms dense clumps. Its basal leaves are oblanceolate or spoon-shaped, 11 to 42 millimeters long, while cauline leaves are narrower with long, brown-tipped acuminate points. The plant's distinctive phyllary tips range from light to dark brown, occasionally olive-green, with acute tips on pistillate flowers and blunt tips on staminate flowers.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species - long-acuminate brown leaf tips and serpentine habitat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, subalpine serpentine slopes, ridges
Elevation: 2075-2430 m
Bloom period
Antennaria sawyeri blooms Jun-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
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 sawyeri native to California?
Yes. Antennaria sawyeri is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Antennaria sawyeri bloom?
Antennaria sawyeri blooms Jun-Aug.
What plant family does Antennaria sawyeri belong to?
Antennaria sawyeri is in the Asteraceae family, genus Antennaria.
Is Antennaria sawyeri rare or endangered?
Antennaria sawyeri carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.
What habitat does Antennaria sawyeri grow in?
Antennaria sawyeri grows in Open, subalpine serpentine slopes, ridges.
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 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.