Arnica fulgens
Hillside arnica, Hillside Arnica, hillside arnica, hillside arnica
(c) Eric Lamb, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2
Arnica fulgens (Hillside arnica) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by yellow-orange rays, persistent basal leaves, and woolly axils are key.
Hillside arnica is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) California native perennial found in northern Sierra Nevada eastern slopes and the Modoc Plateau in open, damp depressions within sagebrush scrub or grassland at elevations of 1,800 to 2,700 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces yellow-orange ray flowers in radiate heads 10 to 30 millimeters long with widely hemispheric involucres. Growing with 1 to several unbranched stems 10 to 75 centimeters tall, it emerges from a short, densely scaly, branched rhizome that is stalked-glandular and generally hairy. Its basal leaves are densely clustered and persistent, with narrowly elliptic to oblanceolate blades 4.5 to 20 centimeters long, while cauline leaves are 3 to 5 pairs and reduced toward the stem's tip. The fruit is 3.5 to 7 millimeters long with forked hairs and a short-barbed white or pale straw-colored pappus.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 11 sympatric species; yellow-orange rays, persistent basal leaves, and woolly axils are key
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, damp depressions in sagebrush scrub or grassland
Elevation: 1800-2700 m
Outside California: to British Columbia, Alberta, Colorado
Bloom period
Arnica fulgens blooms May-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.2
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 fulgens native to California?
Yes. Arnica fulgens is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Arnica fulgens bloom?
Arnica fulgens blooms May-Jul.
What plant family does Arnica fulgens belong to?
Arnica fulgens is in the Asteraceae family, genus Arnica.
Is Arnica fulgens rare or endangered?
Arnica fulgens carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.2, state rank S3.
What habitat does Arnica fulgens grow in?
Arnica fulgens grows in Open, damp depressions in sagebrush scrub or grassland.
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.