Arnica dealbata
Mock leopardbane
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Arnica dealbata (Mock leopardbane) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by persistent rays and sterile disk flowers.
Mock leopardbane is a California native perennial found in the northern California Ranges and northern and central Sierra Nevada in open forests, meadows, and slopes at elevations of 1,200 to 2,400 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces yellow ray flowers 10 to 25 millimeters long in radiate heads 1 to 2 centimeters wide. Growing 15 to 35 centimeters tall with erect stems emerging from a long, branched rhizome, it is densely covered in short curly hairs and sessile glands. Its leaves are mostly crowded toward the stem base, with lower leaves 5 to 10 centimeters long, elliptic to oblanceolate, and upper leaves progressively smaller and narrower. The fruit is 4 to 10 millimeters long, oblong, and slightly flattened, turning brown or black when mature.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 8 sympatric species; persistent rays and sterile disk flowers are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open forest, meadows, slopes
Elevation: 1200-2400 m
California counties: Butte, El Dorado, Fresno, Mariposa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Tehama, Lassen, Calaveras, San Bernardino, Trinity, Siskiyou, Tuolumne, Tulare, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo
Bloom period
Arnica dealbata blooms Jun-Aug.
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 dealbata native to California?
Yes. Arnica dealbata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Arnica dealbata bloom?
Arnica dealbata blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Arnica dealbata grow?
Arnica dealbata occurs in Butte, El Dorado, Fresno, Mariposa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta and other counties, at elevations of 1200-2400 m.
What plant family does Arnica dealbata belong to?
Arnica dealbata is in the Asteraceae family, genus Arnica.
What habitat does Arnica dealbata grow in?
Arnica dealbata grows in Open forest, meadows, slopes.
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.