Packera eurycephala var. eurycephala
Widehead groundsel
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Family: Asteraceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Packera eurycephala var. eurycephala (Widehead groundsel) is a native California subshrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by . Parent species also present - using variety as most specific.
Widehead groundsel is a California native perennial found in northwestern California, the Cascade Range, northern Sierra Nevada, and Modoc Plateau in dry disturbed sites, wooded areas, and dry streambeds at elevations of 200 to 1,700 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces yellow flowers in heads with dense clusters of ray and disk flowers. Growing with one to six erect stems 15 to 45 centimeters tall that are initially covered in white woolly hairs and becoming smoother with age, it develops a somewhat upright underground stem. Its leaves have irregularly toothed edges with winged midribs, ranging from basal rosette leaves to stem leaves that become smaller and less divided upward. The plant forms distinctive clusters of bright yellow flowers in open, spreading arrangements typical of groundsel species.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 16 sympatric species. Parent species also present - using variety as most specific.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Dry disturbed sites, wooded areas, dry or drying streambeds
Elevation: 200-1700 m
California counties: Modoc, Shasta, Lake, Monterey, Napa, Lassen, Sonoma, Colusa, Plumas, Butte, Yuba, Alameda, Yolo, Mendocino
Outside California: Oregon
Bloom period
Packera eurycephala var. eurycephala blooms May-Jun.
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 var. eurycephala native to California?
Yes. Packera eurycephala var. eurycephala is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Packera eurycephala var. eurycephala bloom?
Packera eurycephala var. eurycephala blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Packera eurycephala var. eurycephala grow?
Packera eurycephala var. eurycephala occurs in Modoc, Shasta, Lake, Monterey, Napa, Lassen, Sonoma, Colusa and other counties, at elevations of 200-1700 m.
What plant family does Packera eurycephala var. eurycephala belong to?
Packera eurycephala var. eurycephala is in the Asteraceae family, genus Packera.
What habitat does Packera eurycephala var. eurycephala grow in?
Packera eurycephala var. eurycephala grows in Common. Dry disturbed sites, wooded areas, dry or drying streambeds.
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.