Arnica viscosa
Mount shasta arnica, Mount Shasta Arnica, Mt. Shasta arnica, Mt. Shasta arnica
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Arnica viscosa (Mount shasta arnica) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by cream flowers, much-branched habit, and extreme stickiness.
Mount shasta arnica is a California native perennial ranked 4.3 by CNPS, found in the Klamath Ranges and northwestern California Ranges in open, rocky, subalpine to alpine sites at elevations of 2,000 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from August to September, this plant produces cream-colored flowers in dense discoid heads 10 to 20 millimeters long. Growing with 1 to several much-branched stems 20 to 50 centimeters tall, it emerges from a woody, scaly caudex that is densely covered in stalked glands. Its cauline leaves occur in 5 to 10 pairs, with ovate-oblong blades 2 to 4 centimeters long, widely sessile and nearly entire. The fruit is 4.5 to 6.5 millimeters long and covered in stalked glands, with a short-barbed to slightly feathery white pappus.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 13 sympatric species; cream flowers, much-branched habit, and extreme stickiness are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, rocky, subalpine to alpine sites
Elevation: 2000-2500 m
Outside California: southern Oregon
Bloom period
Arnica viscosa blooms Aug-Sep.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
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 viscosa native to California?
Yes. Arnica viscosa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Arnica viscosa bloom?
Arnica viscosa blooms Aug-Sep.
What plant family does Arnica viscosa belong to?
Arnica viscosa is in the Asteraceae family, genus Arnica.
Is Arnica viscosa rare or endangered?
Arnica viscosa carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S3.
What habitat does Arnica viscosa grow in?
Arnica viscosa grows in Open, rocky, subalpine to alpine sites.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Arnica cernua — Serpentine arnica
- Arnica chamissonis — Chamisso arnica
- Arnica cordifolia — Heartleaf arnica
- Arnica dealbata — Mock leopardbane
- Arnica discoidea — Rayless arnica
- Arnica fulgens — Hillside arnica
- Artemisia annua — Sweet annie
- Artemisia arbuscula — Low sagebrush
- Artemisia arbuscula subsp. arbuscula
- Artemisia arbuscula subsp. longiloba
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.