Malacothrix saxatilis var. arachnoidea

Carmel valley malacothrix, Carmel Valley Malacothrix

Family: Asteraceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Carmel valley malacothrix is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in the central coast, southern coastal ranges, and western Transverse Ranges in rocky coastal scrub and chaparral at elevations of 25 to 900 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces white to pale lavender flowers in heads with distinctive ray florets. Growing with woolly, tomentose stems 10 to 40 centimeters tall, it emerges from a rhizome or caudex with a spreading, somewhat tangled appearance. Its leaves are lanceolate to elliptic, generally entire or with occasional proximal teeth, featuring acute tips and a soft, hairy texture that helps it blend into rocky coastal landscapes. The plant's delicate, spider-web-like tomentose covering gives it a unique, silvery-green appearance that allows it to thrive in exposed, rocky environments.

Habitat: Rocky, open banks, shale outcrops, cliff faces, coastal scrub, chaparral

Bloom period: May-Aug(Oct)

Elevation: 25-900 m

Bioregions: CCo, SCoRO, WTR.

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.