Packera layneae
Layne's ragwort
(c) Colin J Pryor, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2 · Threatened
Packera layneae (Layne's ragwort) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family.
Layne's ragwort is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in northern and central Sierra Nevada Foothills in serpentine soil openings and disturbed areas at elevations of 300 to 900 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces white ray flowers with yellow disk centers in heads 5 to 12 millimeters long. Growing with 1 to 4 clustered stems 40 to 70 centimeters tall and emerging from a stout taprooted base, it displays a relatively robust structure with sparse tomentose hair coverage. Its basal leaves are thick and firm, narrowly elliptic to lanceolate, 4 to 7 centimeters long and 0.5 to 2 centimeters wide, with subtle irregular dentate edges particularly near leaf tips. The plant's distinctive white ray flowers, typically 5 to 8 per head measuring 12 to 16 millimeters long, create a delicate contrast against its green phyllaries.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated - no sympatric species.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Openings, disturbed areas, serpentine soils
Elevation: 300-900 m
Bloom period
Packera layneae blooms Apr-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2 · Threatened
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 layneae native to California?
Yes. Packera layneae is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Packera layneae bloom?
Packera layneae blooms Apr-Jun.
What plant family does Packera layneae belong to?
Packera layneae is in the Asteraceae family, genus Packera.
Is Packera layneae rare or endangered?
Packera layneae carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.
What habitat does Packera layneae grow in?
Packera layneae grows in Openings, disturbed areas, serpentine 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.