Eriophyllum pringlei
Pringle's woolly sunflower, Pringle's Woolly Sunflower
(c) Joe Decruyenaere, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Eriophyllum pringlei (Pringle's woolly sunflower) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by complete absence of ray flowers distinguishes from most congeners.
Pringle's woolly sunflower is a California native annual found in southern Sierra Nevada foothills, Tehachapi, southern Coastal Ranges, Transverse Ranges, southeastern Sierra Nevada, and desert regions in chaparral, sagebrush scrub, and woodland habitats at elevations of 300 to 2,200 meters. Flowering from February to July, this plant produces yellow disk flowers in small clusters without ray flowers. Growing as a tiny, tufted plant just 1 to 5 centimeters tall with a white-woolly appearance, it spreads in compact clusters across its habitat. Its leaves are small, wedge-shaped, typically 3 to 10 millimeters long with three distinct lobes, covered in dense white wool with margins rolled tightly underneath. The tiny fruit is 1.5 to 2 millimeters long and slightly hairy, reflecting this diminutive sunflower's delicate desert adaptation.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 16 sympatric species; complete absence of ray flowers distinguishes from most congeners
Habitat and range
Habitat: Chaparral, sagebrush or desert scrub or woodland
Elevation: 300-2200 m
Outside California: to southern Nevada, Arizona, northern Baja California
Bloom period
Eriophyllum pringlei blooms Feb-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Achillea: Eriophyllum has woolly leaves; Achillea has feathery fern-like leaves and flat-topped white/pink flower clusters.; vs Lasthenia: Eriophyllum has densely woolly leaves; Lasthenia has smooth or sparsely hairy leaves.; vs Monolopia: Eriophyllum rays fall off cleanly; Monolopia rays have a small opposite lobe at base.; vs Artemisia: Eriophyllum has yellow ray flowers; Artemisia has tiny rayless heads and aromatic silver-gray foliage.; vs Pseudognaphalium: Eriophyllum has yellow ray petals; Pseudognaphalium has white/cream rayless everlasting flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Eriophyllum pringlei native to California?
Yes. Eriophyllum pringlei is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriophyllum pringlei bloom?
Eriophyllum pringlei blooms Feb-Jul.
What plant family does Eriophyllum pringlei belong to?
Eriophyllum pringlei is in the Asteraceae family, genus Eriophyllum.
What habitat does Eriophyllum pringlei grow in?
Eriophyllum pringlei grows in Chaparral, sagebrush or desert scrub or woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Eriophyllum sp. — Woolly sunflower
- Eriophyllum staechadifolium — Seaside woolly sunflower
- Eriophyllum wallacei — Wallace's woolly daisy
- Eriophyllum ambiguum — Annual woolly sunflower
- Eriophyllum ambiguum var. ambiguum — Beautiful woolly sunflower
- Eriophyllum ambiguum var. paleaceum — Annual woolly sunflower
- Euchiton gymnocephalus — Creeping cudweed
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.