Chaenactis nevadensis
Sierra pincushion, Sierra Pincushion
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Chaenactis nevadensis (Sierra pincushion) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by cushion form with broad, flat leaf lobes.
Sierra pincushion is a California native perennial found in southern Klamath Ranges (Bully Choop Mountain), southern Cascade Range (Lassen Park area), and northern Sierra Nevada at elevations of 1,900 to 3,200 meters in loose, volcanic or ultramafic sand, gravel, and scree. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces white to pale pink flowers in small, scapose heads approximately 9 to 12 millimeters long. Growing in dense, matted clumps 2 to 10 centimeters tall with minimal branching, it has woolly white proximal hairs and a low, compact form. Its basal leaves are 2.5 to 5 centimeters long, with ovate to deltate blades that are 1- to 2-pinnately lobed and gland-pitted beneath the hairs. The fruit is 5.5 to 7.5 millimeters long with a pappus of 10 to 16 scales in 3 to 4 nearly equal series.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 11 sympatric species; key features are cushion form with broad, flat leaf lobes
Habitat and range
Habitat: Loose, generally volcanic or ultramafic sand, gravel, scree
Elevation: 1900-3200 m
Outside California: to western Nevada
Bloom period
Chaenactis nevadensis blooms Jul-Sep.
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 nevadensis native to California?
Yes. Chaenactis nevadensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Chaenactis nevadensis bloom?
Chaenactis nevadensis blooms Jul-Sep.
What plant family does Chaenactis nevadensis belong to?
Chaenactis nevadensis is in the Asteraceae family, genus Chaenactis.
What habitat does Chaenactis nevadensis grow in?
Chaenactis nevadensis grows in Loose, generally volcanic or ultramafic sand, gravel, scree.
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.