Arnica venosa
Shasta county arnica, Shasta County Arnica, Shasta County arnica, Shasta County arnica
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.2
Arnica venosa (Shasta county arnica) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by rayless, strongly net-veined leaves, and single head.
Shasta county arnica is a California native perennial ranked 4.2 by CNPS, found in the Klamath Ranges in open, often disturbed oak and pine woodland at elevations of 400 to 1,400 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces yellow flowers in solitary heads approximately 15 to 20 millimeters long. Growing with stems 20 to 60 centimeters tall that are unevenly hairy and glandular, it develops from a branched, scaly underground caudex. Its cauline leaves grow in 6 to 10 pairs, with middle leaves 3 to 7 centimeters long, lanceolate to nearly ovate, strongly three to five-veined, and unevenly toothed. The fruit is 6 to 8 millimeters long and covered in dense forked hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 13 sympatric species; rayless, strongly net-veined leaves, and single head are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, often disturbed oak/pine woodland
Elevation: 400-1400 m
Bloom period
Arnica venosa blooms May-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.2
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 venosa native to California?
Yes. Arnica venosa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Arnica venosa bloom?
Arnica venosa blooms May-Jun.
What plant family does Arnica venosa belong to?
Arnica venosa is in the Asteraceae family, genus Arnica.
Is Arnica venosa rare or endangered?
Arnica venosa carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.2, state rank S3.
What habitat does Arnica venosa grow in?
Arnica venosa grows in Open, often disturbed oak/pine woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Arnica viscosa — Mount shasta arnica
- Arnica cernua — Serpentine arnica
- Arnica chamissonis — Chamisso arnica
- Arnica cordifolia — Heartleaf arnica
- Arnica dealbata — Mock leopardbane
- Arnica discoidea — Rayless arnica
- Artemisia annua — Sweet annie
- Artemisia arbuscula — Low sagebrush
- Artemisia arbuscula subsp. arbuscula
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.