Holozonia filipes
Whitecrown, Whitecrown
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steve Matson · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Holozonia filipes (Whitecrown) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by Monotypic genus endemic to California and adjacent Oregon; unique floral architecture within Asteraceae.
Whitecrown is a California native perennial found in southern Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, Cascade Range foothills, northern Sierra Nevada, eastern edge of the Great Valley, San Francisco Bay Area, central South Coast Ranges, and southwestern Modoc Plateau in banks, dry streambeds, and rocky or alkaline clay habitats at elevations of 30 to 1,000 meters. Flowering from June to October, this plant produces white flowers with purple-veined rays in loose, flat-topped clusters with heads approximately 2 to 4 millimeters wide. Growing with erect stems 30 to 150 centimeters tall, it has stiffly ascending branches covered in soft hairs. Its leaves are linear to lance-shaped, 3 to 10 centimeters long, with proximal leaves opposite and fused around the stem, covered in soft hairs and featuring stiff glandular hairs on distal leaves. The fruit is 2.5 to 3.5 millimeters long, compressed, club-shaped, and black with a broadly cup-shaped tip.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Monotypic genus endemic to California and adjacent Oregon; unique floral architecture within Asteraceae
Habitat and range
Habitat: Banks, dry streambeds, pools, rocky or alkaline clay, sometimes serpentine
Elevation: 30-1000 m
Bloom period
Holozonia filipes blooms Jun-Oct.
How to tell it apart
vs Hemizonia: Holozonia has white disk flowers and is perennial; Hemizonia has yellow disks and is annual.; vs Hemizonella: Holozonia is perennial with white disk flowers; Hemizonella is annual with yellow disks.; vs Lagophylla: Holozonia has white disk flowers and is perennial; Lagophylla has yellow disks and is annual.; vs Layia: Holozonia has white disk flowers; Layia has yellow disk flowers.; vs Achyrachaena: Holozonia has white disk flowers; Achyrachaena has yellow disk flowers and large scaled fruits.
Frequently asked questions
Is Holozonia filipes native to California?
Yes. Holozonia filipes is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Holozonia filipes bloom?
Holozonia filipes blooms Jun-Oct.
What plant family does Holozonia filipes belong to?
Holozonia filipes is in the Asteraceae family, genus Holozonia.
What habitat does Holozonia filipes grow in?
Holozonia filipes grows in Banks, dry streambeds, pools, rocky or alkaline clay, sometimes serpentine.
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.