Packera ganderi
Gander's ragwort
(c) Madeleine Claire, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Packera ganderi (Gander's ragwort) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family.
Gander's ragwort is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in the Peninsular Ranges in chaparral understory and recently burned slopes with gabbroic soils at elevations of 700 to 1,100 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces yellow ray flowers 10 to 12 millimeters long with green phyllary heads arranged in compact clusters. Growing 30 to 80 centimeters tall with a single glabrous or slightly hairy stem emerging from a weakly spreading fibrous root system. Its distinctive basal leaves are firm and leathery, 4 to 7 centimeters long, kidney-shaped to nearly round, with truncate or heart-shaped bases and toothed or shallowly lobed edges. The compact flower heads feature 13 or 21 ray flowers surrounding 40 to 60 disk flowers, creating a delicate and intricate botanical display.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated - no sympatric species.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Chaparral understory, recently burned chaparral slopes, gabbroic soils
Elevation: 700-1100 m
Bloom period
Packera ganderi blooms Apr-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
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 ganderi native to California?
Yes. Packera ganderi is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Packera ganderi bloom?
Packera ganderi blooms Apr-May.
What plant family does Packera ganderi belong to?
Packera ganderi is in the Asteraceae family, genus Packera.
Is Packera ganderi rare or endangered?
Packera ganderi carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.
What habitat does Packera ganderi grow in?
Packera ganderi grows in Chaparral understory, recently burned chaparral slopes, gabbroic soils.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.