Packera macounii
Siskiyou mountains ragwort, Siskiyou Mountains Ragwort
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Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Packera macounii (Siskiyou mountains ragwort) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by . Distinguished by lanceolate leaves with rolled margins.
Siskiyou mountains ragwort is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges in streambanks, clearings, and disturbed conifer woodlands at elevations of 375 to 1,200 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces white ray flowers with yellow disk centers in clusters of 6 to 15 heads. Growing 30 to 40 centimeters tall with stems that are sparsely to densely covered in woolly hairs, it emerges from a taprooted base. Its basal leaves are lanceolate to oblanceolate, 3 to 5 centimeters long, with entire or slightly toothed margins that roll slightly under. The upper stem leaves become progressively smaller and bract-like, giving the plant a distinctive tiered appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species. Distinguished by lanceolate leaves with rolled margins.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Streambanks, clearings, disturbed sites in conifer woodland
Elevation: 375-1200 m
California counties: Del Norte, Siskiyou, Humboldt
Outside California: to British Columbia
Bloom period
Packera macounii blooms May-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
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 macounii native to California?
Yes. Packera macounii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Packera macounii bloom?
Packera macounii blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Packera macounii grow?
Packera macounii occurs in Del Norte, Siskiyou, Humboldt, at elevations of 375-1200 m.
What plant family does Packera macounii belong to?
Packera macounii is in the Asteraceae family, genus Packera.
Is Packera macounii rare or endangered?
Packera macounii carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · 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.