Packera eurycephala
Widehead groundsel
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ken-ichi Ueda · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Packera eurycephala (Widehead groundsel) is a native California subshrub in the Asteraceae family.
Widehead groundsel is a California native perennial herb found in alpine and subalpine habitats at elevations likely between 2,000 to 3,500 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces yellow ray flowers 10 to 15 millimeters long surrounded by green to yellow-tipped phyllaries in open clusters of 5 to 20 flower heads. Growing 20 to 50 centimeters tall with one or several stems emerging from a woody taprooted caudex, the plant displays variable stem hairiness from nearly smooth to densely woolly. Its distinctive leaves feature a large terminal lobe with 2 to 6 pairs of lateral lobes, creating an intricate ovate to spoon-shaped blade that becomes progressively smaller and more sessile toward the stem tip. The fruit is smooth and 3.5 to 4.5 millimeters long, contributing to its distinctive alpine appearance.
Habitat and range
California counties: Tehama, Modoc, Lake, Napa, Yolo, Mendocino, Lassen, San Luis Obispo, Inyo, Butte, Colusa, Sonoma
How to tell it apart
vs Senecio: Packera has green or red bract tips and fibrous roots; Senecio often has black bract tips and taproots.; vs Jacobaea: Packera is native with soft-toothed leaf margins; Jacobaea is non-native with harder-edged leaves.; vs Arnica: Packera has alternate leaves and many small heads; Arnica has opposite leaves and fewer large heads.; vs Eriophyllum: Packera has green leaves with soft hairs; Eriophyllum has densely woolly gray-white leaves.; vs Eriogonum: Packera has yellow daisy flowers; buckwheat has ball-like clusters of tiny pink/white/yellow flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Packera eurycephala native to California?
Yes. Packera eurycephala is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Packera eurycephala grow?
Packera eurycephala occurs in Tehama, Modoc, Lake, Napa, Yolo, Mendocino, Lassen, San Luis Obispo and other counties.
What plant family does Packera eurycephala belong to?
Packera eurycephala is in the Asteraceae family, genus Packera.
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.