Arnica cordifolia
Heartleaf arnica
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Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Arnica cordifolia (Heartleaf arnica) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by cordate leaf bases are strongly diagnostic.
Heartleaf arnica is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, high Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, eastern San Francisco Bay Area, southern Coast Ranges, Peninsular Ranges, and Modoc Plateau in high meadows and conifer forests at elevations of 500 to 3,000 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces yellow ray flowers with disk florets, forming radiate heads 15 to 20 millimeters long. Growing 10 to 40 centimeters tall with 1 to few loose, generally unbranched stems emerging from a scaly-tipped rhizome, it has an uneven glandular and short-hairy appearance. Its leaves include 2 to 4 pairs of stem leaves with heart-shaped blades 3 to 11 centimeters long, often with shallow teeth, and persistent basal leaves on sterile rosettes. The fruit is 5 to 10 millimeters long, covered in short forked hairs with a white short-barbed pappus.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 16 sympatric species; cordate leaf bases are strongly diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: High meadows, conifer forest
Elevation: 500-3000 m
Outside California: to Wyoming, north-central North America, New Mexico
Bloom period
Arnica cordifolia blooms May-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Senecio: Senecio has alternate leaves; Arnica leaves opposite in pairs - check leaf arrangement first; vs Wyethia: Wyethia has large basal leaves and many-ranked bracts; Arnica stem leaves opposite, bracts in 2 series; vs Packera: Packera has alternate leaves; Arnica leaves opposite in pairs up stem; vs Kyhosia: Kyhosia has alternate leaves; Arnica leaves opposite - check where leaves attach to stem; vs Helianthella: Helianthella leaves mostly alternate; Arnica leaves strictly opposite in pairs
Frequently asked questions
Is Arnica cordifolia native to California?
Yes. Arnica cordifolia is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Arnica cordifolia bloom?
Arnica cordifolia blooms May-Jul.
What plant family does Arnica cordifolia belong to?
Arnica cordifolia is in the Asteraceae family, genus Arnica.
What habitat does Arnica cordifolia grow in?
Arnica cordifolia grows in High meadows, conifer forest.
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.