Chaenactis artemisiifolia
White pincushion, White Pincushion
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Chaenactis artemisiifolia (White pincushion) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by lack of pappus (seed bristles).
White pincushion is a California native annual herb found in southern Sierra de Salinas Mountains and southwestern California (excluding Channel Islands) in dry canyons and open chaparral burn areas at elevations of 80 to 1,600 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces white to pale pink flowers in small clusters of 3 to 20 heads, with delicate disc-like flower heads 5 to 7 millimeters long. Growing with a single branching stem 25 to 90 centimeters tall, it has white mealy or powdery proximal hairs. Its leaves are deeply divided, with 3 to 4 levels of pinnate lobes, typically 5 to 10 pairs of flat-tipped segments along each branch. The plant's distinctive deltate leaf blades spread 3 to 15 centimeters long, creating an intricate, lacy green foliage across dry, often granitic landscapes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species; key feature is lack of pappus (seed bristles)
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry canyons, open slopes, often granitic, especially chaparral burns
Elevation: 80-1600 m
Outside California: northern Baja California
Bloom period
Chaenactis artemisiifolia blooms Apr-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Eriophyllum: Eriophyllum has obvious yellow ray flowers; Chaenactis completely lacks rays; vs Lasthenia: Lasthenia has bright yellow rays; Chaenactis rayless with white/purple tubular flowers only; vs Malacothrix: Malacothrix has all strap-shaped flowers and milky sap; Chaenactis all tubular, clear sap; vs Eriogonum: Eriogonum flowers have 6 segments in ball-like clusters; Chaenactis typical composite heads; vs Uropappus: Uropappus has all strap-shaped yellow flowers; Chaenactis all tubular white/purple flowers
Frequently asked questions
Is Chaenactis artemisiifolia native to California?
Yes. Chaenactis artemisiifolia is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Chaenactis artemisiifolia bloom?
Chaenactis artemisiifolia blooms Apr-Jul.
What plant family does Chaenactis artemisiifolia belong to?
Chaenactis artemisiifolia is in the Asteraceae family, genus Chaenactis.
What habitat does Chaenactis artemisiifolia grow in?
Chaenactis artemisiifolia grows in dry canyons, open slopes, often granitic, especially chaparral burns.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Chaenactis carphoclinia — Pebble pincushion
- Chaenactis carphoclinia var. carphoclinia — Pebble pincushion
- Chaenactis carphoclinia var. peirsonii — Peirson's pincushion
- Chaenactis douglasii — Chaenactis
- Chaenactis douglasii var. alpina — Alpine dusty-maidens
- Chaenactis douglasii var. douglasii — Dusty-maidens; false yarrow
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.