Blepharipappus scaber
Blepharipappus
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Blepharipappus scaber (Blepharipappus) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by Northwestern species reaching its southern range limit in northern California.
Blepharipappus is a California native annual found in the Klamath Ranges, northern high Sierra Nevada, and Modoc Plateau in openings of sagebrush scrub, yellow-pine forest, and juniper woodland at elevations of 300 to 2,300 meters. Flowering from April to September, this plant produces white flowers with purple-veined rays 2 to 11 millimeters long, arranged in small radiate heads 3 to 6 millimeters in diameter. Growing as a slender-branched plant 5 to 20 centimeters tall, it develops delicate stems that are scabrous and glandular toward the tips. Its leaves are narrow and spoon-shaped to linear, mostly 6 to 25 millimeters long, sessile and generally ascending with margins rolled under. The fruit is black, 2 to 3.5 millimeters long, typically covered with white hairs and topped with 12 to 18 fringed or plumose scales.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Northwestern species reaching its southern range limit in northern California
Habitat and range
Habitat: Openings in sagebrush scrub, yellow-pine forest, juniper woodland
Elevation: 300-2300 m
Outside California: to Washington, Idaho, Nevada
Bloom period
Blepharipappus scaber blooms Apr-Sep.
Frequently asked questions
Is Blepharipappus scaber native to California?
Yes. Blepharipappus scaber is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Blepharipappus scaber bloom?
Blepharipappus scaber blooms Apr-Sep.
What plant family does Blepharipappus scaber belong to?
Blepharipappus scaber is in the Asteraceae family, genus Blepharipappus.
What habitat does Blepharipappus scaber grow in?
Blepharipappus scaber grows in Openings in sagebrush scrub, yellow-pine forest, juniper woodland.
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.