Palafoxia arida
Desert palafox
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Palafoxia arida (Desert palafox) is a native California subshrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by splits into 2 varieties within California.
Desert palafox is a California native perennial found in desert regions in arid habitats at low elevations. Flowering from summer to fall, this plant produces white to pink flowers with delicate, radiant heads and pink to purple anthers. Growing with much-branched, generally erect stems that can reach 12 centimeters tall, it forms a compact and intricate structure. Its leaves are linear to lance-linear, measuring 2 to 12 centimeters long with petioles 5 to 15 millimeters in length. The fruit is 10 to 15 millimeters long, covered in strigose hairs with a distinctive pappus of varying scale lengths.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated from all congeners; splits into 2 varieties within California
How to tell it apart
vs Lessingia: Palafoxia fruits 10-15mm, desert perennial; Lessingia fruits 2-4mm, annual with taproot; vs Porophyllum: Porophyllum has gland-dotted leaves with strong scent; Palafoxia leaves not gland-dotted; vs Centaurea: Centaurea has ornately fringed/spiny bract tips; Palafoxia bracts simple, not spine-tipped; vs Chaenactis: Chaenactis fruits 3-9mm; Palafoxia fruits 10-15mm - check fruit size; vs Eriodictyon: Eriodictyon is woody shrub with tubular flowers; Palafoxia herbaceous with composite heads
Frequently asked questions
Is Palafoxia arida native to California?
Yes. Palafoxia arida is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Palafoxia arida belong to?
Palafoxia arida is in the Asteraceae family, genus Palafoxia.
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.