Malacothrix floccifera
Woolly dandelion
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Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Malacothrix floccifera (Woolly dandelion) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by distinctive white flowers and hair-tufted leaf lobes.
Woolly dandelion is a California native annual found in northwestern California, the Cascade Range, northern and central Sierra Nevada, Sacramento Valley, central western California, Transverse Ranges, and Peninsular Ranges in open burns, chaparral, pinyon and juniper woodland, and yellow-pine forest at elevations below 2,000 meters. Flowering from March to November, this plant produces white to yellow flowers in heads 5 to 9 millimeters long arranged in cyme- or panicle-like clusters. Growing up to 45 centimeters tall with 1 to many branched stems that are erect or ascending and glabrous, it has a distinctive growth habit. Its basal leaves are fleshy and oblong or oblong-spoon-shaped, with proximal leaves featuring 4 to 6 pairs of wide, obtuse lobes with white hair-tufted bases. The flower heads have outer phyllaries approximately half the length of inner phyllaries, with densely bristly receptacles and ligules of outermost flowers extending 5 to 9 millimeters.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species; distinctive white flowers and hair-tufted leaf lobes
Habitat and range
Habitat: In loose soil of open burns, slides, in chaparral, pinyon/juniper woodland, yellow-pine forest
Elevation: < 2000 m
Outside California: Nevada
Bloom period
Malacothrix floccifera blooms Mar-Nov.
How to tell it apart
vs Rafinesquia: Rafinesquia has persistent pappus that stays attached; Malacothrix pappus falls off easily when disturbed.; vs Pinaropappus: Pinaropappus pappus remains attached to seeds; Malacothrix pappus falls away easily.; vs Anisocoma: Anisocoma has scale-like pappus; Malacothrix has bristly pappus that falls off easily.; vs Calycoseris: Calycoseris leaves have glandular-sticky stems; Malacothrix lacks the sticky glandular feel.; vs Agoseris: Agoseris pappus stays firmly attached; Malacothrix pappus falls off at the slightest touch.
Frequently asked questions
Is Malacothrix floccifera native to California?
Yes. Malacothrix floccifera is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Malacothrix floccifera bloom?
Malacothrix floccifera blooms Mar-Nov.
What plant family does Malacothrix floccifera belong to?
Malacothrix floccifera is in the Asteraceae family, genus Malacothrix.
What habitat does Malacothrix floccifera grow in?
Malacothrix floccifera grows in In loose soil of open burns, slides, in chaparral, pinyon/juniper woodland, yellow-pine forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Malacothrix foliosa — Leafy desertdandelion
- Malacothrix foliosa subsp. crispifolia — Wavy-leaved malacothrix
- Malacothrix foliosa subsp. foliosa — Leafy malacothrix
- Malacothrix foliosa subsp. philbrickii — Philbrick's malacothrix
- Malacothrix foliosa subsp. polycephala — Many-headed malacothrix
- Malacothrix glabrata — Desert dandelion
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.