Palafoxia arida var. arida
Desert needle
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Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Palafoxia arida var. arida (Desert needle) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by 1 sympatric variety; key differences are habitat, elevation, stem texture, and flower head size.
Desert needle is a California native perennial found in the Mojave Desert (Bioregion D) in sandy washes, dunes, and creosote-bush scrub at elevations below 1,000 meters. Flowering from January to September, this plant produces white flowers in dense heads 5 to 40 millimeters wide with cylindric involucres. Growing with rough-hairy stems that become glandular toward the tips, it reaches 20 to 30 centimeters tall. Its leaves are 2 to 10 centimeters long, covered in a rough, grayish-white canescent surface that gives the plant a distinctive silvery appearance. The fruit is elongated, measuring 10 to 15 millimeters in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric variety; key differences are habitat, elevation, stem texture, and flower head size
Habitat and range
Habitat: Washes, dunes, other sandy places in creosote-bush scrub
Elevation: < 1000 m
Outside California: Nevada, Arizona, northern Mexico
Bloom period
Palafoxia arida var. arida blooms Jan-Sep.
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 var. arida native to California?
Yes. Palafoxia arida var. arida is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Palafoxia arida var. arida bloom?
Palafoxia arida var. arida blooms Jan-Sep.
What plant family does Palafoxia arida var. arida belong to?
Palafoxia arida var. arida is in the Asteraceae family, genus Palafoxia.
What habitat does Palafoxia arida var. arida grow in?
Palafoxia arida var. arida grows in Washes, dunes, other sandy places in creosote-bush scrub.
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.