Chaenactis douglasii var. alpina

Alpine dusty-maidens

Family: Asteraceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3

Alpine dusty-maidens is a rare (CNPS 2B.3) California native perennial found in northern Sierra Nevada and northern Death Mountains (Panamint Range) on rocky or gravelly ridges and talus slopes at elevations of 3,000 to 3,400 meters. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces white flowers in heads solitary or paired on stems. Growing in dense or mat-like clusters with stems 10 to 25 centimeters tall, it forms compact ground-hugging clumps. Its basal leaves are persistent, 1 to 6 centimeters long, sometimes becoming smooth as they mature. These delicate alpine plants create tight, resilient clusters in harsh high-elevation environments, allowing them to survive in challenging rocky terrain.

Habitat: Rocky or gravelly ridges, talus, fell-fields, crevices

Bloom period: Jul-Sep

Elevation: 3000-3400 m

Bioregions: n SNH, n DMtns (Panamint Range)

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.