Hulsea vestita subsp. pygmaea
Pygmy hulsea, Pygmy Hulsea
Photo: parent species Hulsea vestita · Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3
Hulsea vestita subsp. pygmaea (Pygmy hulsea) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by tiny size and red-purple flower heads.
Pygmy hulsea is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native perennial found in southern Sierra Nevada and San Bernardino Mountains on open gravel, talus slopes, and alpine barrens at elevations of 3,200 to 3,900 meters. Flowering from June to October, this diminutive plant produces ray flowers 5 to 8 millimeters long in deep red-orange colors with distinctive red-purple phyllary bracts. Growing less than 10 centimeters tall with nearly leafless stems, it forms a compact alpine plant. Its basal leaves are distinctively lobed, with petioles approximately equal in length to the blade, and covered with glandular hairs on the undersurface. The plant's extremely small stature and vibrant red-orange flowers make it a striking alpine species adapted to harsh, high-elevation environments.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species; distinguished by tiny size and red-purple flower heads
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open gravel, talus slopes, subalpine forest, alpine barrens
Elevation: 3200-3900 m
Bloom period
Hulsea vestita subsp. pygmaea blooms Jun-Oct.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.3
How to tell it apart
vs Bahiopsis: Hulsea leaves are never woody-based shrubs like Bahiopsis; check if plant is herbaceous and high-elevation.; vs Encelia: Hulsea is sticky-glandular throughout; Encelia has dry, often silvery leaves without glandular hairs.; vs Heterotheca: Hulsea has exactly 4 seed scales in unequal pairs; Heterotheca has numerous bristly pappus.; vs Gaillardia: Hulsea leaves are entire to shallowly lobed; Gaillardia has deeply divided, dissected leaves.; vs Hymenoxys: Hulsea leaves are entire to shallowly lobed; Hymenoxys has deeply dissected, feathery leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hulsea vestita subsp. pygmaea native to California?
Yes. Hulsea vestita subsp. pygmaea is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Hulsea vestita subsp. pygmaea bloom?
Hulsea vestita subsp. pygmaea blooms Jun-Oct.
What plant family does Hulsea vestita subsp. pygmaea belong to?
Hulsea vestita subsp. pygmaea is in the Asteraceae family, genus Hulsea.
Is Hulsea vestita subsp. pygmaea rare or endangered?
Hulsea vestita subsp. pygmaea carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.3, state rank S1.
What habitat does Hulsea vestita subsp. pygmaea grow in?
Hulsea vestita subsp. pygmaea grows in Open gravel, talus slopes, subalpine forest, alpine barrens.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Hulsea vestita subsp. vestita
- Hulsea algida — High mountain hulsea
- Hulsea brevifolia — Shortleaved hulsea
- Hulsea californica — San diego sunflower
- Hulsea heterochroma — Red rayed hulsea
- Hulsea mexicana — Mexican hulsea
- Hymenopappus filifolius — Columbia cutleaf
- Hymenopappus filifolius var. eriopodus — Hairy-podded fine-leaf hymenopappus
- Hymenopappus filifolius var. lugens — Columbia cutleaf
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.