Crepis nana
Dwarf alpine hawksbeard
(c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Crepis nana (Dwarf alpine hawksbeard) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by alpine habitat, tiny size, and entire/slightly toothed leaves.
Dwarf alpine hawksbeard is a California native perennial found in central and southern Sierra Nevada, San Gabriel Mountains, northern Sierra Nevada (Sweetwater Mountains), White and Inyo Mountains, and northern desert mountains (Panamint Range) on talus slopes and gravel bars at elevations of 2,000 to 4,000 meters. Flowering from May to September, this plant produces yellow flowers in small clusters with cylindric involucres 10 to 13 millimeters long, featuring dark green or purple phyllaries. Growing in dense clumps with slender stems 2 to 10 centimeters tall, the plant forms erect or ascending branches that are glabrous and purple-green. Its mostly basal leaves are round to spoon- or fiddle-shaped, varying from entire to few-toothed or shallowly lobed. The fruit is 4 to 6 millimeters long, golden-brown with 10 to 13 ribs and topped with a bright white, deciduous pappus.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species; distinguished by alpine habitat, tiny size, and entire/slightly toothed leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: Talus slopes, gravel bars
Elevation: 2000-4000 m
Outside California: to Alaska, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, northeastern North America, Asia
Bloom period
Crepis nana blooms May-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Hypochaeris: Hypochaeris has mostly leafless stems with tiny bracts; Crepis has well-developed leaves up the stem.; vs Taraxacum: Taraxacum has all leaves basal with leafless stems; Crepis has leaves ascending the branched stem.; vs Agoseris: Agoseris has leafless flower stems from basal rosettes; Crepis has leafy branched stems.; vs Sonchus: Sonchus has clasping stem leaves with spiny margins; Crepis leaves are typically not clasping or spiny.; vs Helminthotheca: Helminthotheca has bristly leaves and bracts; Crepis typically lacks the dense bristly covering.
Frequently asked questions
Is Crepis nana native to California?
Yes. Crepis nana is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Crepis nana bloom?
Crepis nana blooms May-Sep.
What plant family does Crepis nana belong to?
Crepis nana is in the Asteraceae family, genus Crepis.
What habitat does Crepis nana grow in?
Crepis nana grows in Talus slopes, gravel bars.
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.