Arnica parryi
Nodding arnica
(c) Arvel Hernandez, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Arnica parryi (Nodding arnica) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by nodding buds and short/absent rays.
Nodding arnica is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, southern North Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada, and White and Inyo Mountains in open conifer forests and alpine meadows at elevations of 500 to 3,630 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces yellow ray flowers with yellow disk flowers in heads that nod while in bud. Growing 10 to 60 centimeters tall with a single, generally unbranched stem emerging from a short, freely rooting rhizome, it has soft-spreading hairs near the base. Its basal leaves are roughly ovate and nearly sessile, while stem leaves include 3 to 4 pairs of lanceolate to ovate blades, with lower pairs widely spaced and up to 20 centimeters long. The fruit is 4 to 6 millimeters long with a brown-yellow plumose pappus.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 14 sympatric species; nodding buds and short/absent rays are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open conifer forest to alpine meadows
Elevation: 500-3630 m
Outside California: to northwestern Canada, Montana, Colorado
Bloom period
Arnica parryi blooms Jul-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 parryi native to California?
Yes. Arnica parryi is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Arnica parryi bloom?
Arnica parryi blooms Jul-Aug.
What plant family does Arnica parryi belong to?
Arnica parryi is in the Asteraceae family, genus Arnica.
What habitat does Arnica parryi grow in?
Arnica parryi grows in Open conifer forest to alpine meadows.
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.