Pseudognaphalium leucocephalum
White rabbit-tobacco, White Rabbit-Tobacco
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2
Pseudognaphalium leucocephalum (White rabbit-tobacco) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by rare status, canyon habitat, and many disk flowers.
White rabbit-tobacco is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) California native perennial found in southern California coastal areas, San Bernardino Mountains, and Peninsular Ranges in sandy or gravelly stream bottoms and canyon habitats at elevations below 500 meters. Flowering from July to October, this plant produces white flowers in rounded or flat-topped clusters with bright white, opaque involucres 5 to 6 millimeters long. Growing with densely white-tomentose stems 30 to 70 centimeters tall that are scented and have stalked-glandular hairs, it has a distinctive biennial or short-lived perennial habit. Its linear to lance-linear leaves are 3 to 7 centimeters long, crowded on the stem, with strongly curled margins and green upper surfaces densely covered in stalked glands. The fruit is subtly ridged and smooth, with 66 to 85 pistillate flowers and 29 to 44 disk flowers per cluster.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species; key features are rare status, canyon habitat, and many disk flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy or gravelly benches, dry stream bottoms, canyon bottoms
Elevation: < 500 m
Outside California: Arizona, New Mexico, Mexico
Bloom period
Pseudognaphalium leucocephalum blooms Jul-Oct.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.2
How to tell it apart
vs Anaphalis: Pseudognaphalium has branched, open flower clusters; Anaphalis has dense, flat-topped clusters and noticeably papery white bracts.; vs Helichrysum: Pseudognaphalium has small, clustered woolly heads; Helichrysum has larger, more colorful papery flower heads often used in dried arrangements.; vs Artemisia: Pseudognaphalium has woolly white leaves and papery flower heads; Artemisia has aromatic gray-green leaves and tiny greenish flowers.; vs Salvia: Pseudognaphalium has papery flower heads in the Asteraceae; Salvia has tubular lipped flowers typical of mints with square stems.; vs Erigeron: Pseudognaphalium has papery heads without obvious petals; Erigeron has clear white or colored ray petals around each flower head.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pseudognaphalium leucocephalum native to California?
Yes. Pseudognaphalium leucocephalum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Pseudognaphalium leucocephalum bloom?
Pseudognaphalium leucocephalum blooms Jul-Oct.
What plant family does Pseudognaphalium leucocephalum belong to?
Pseudognaphalium leucocephalum is in the Asteraceae family, genus Pseudognaphalium.
Is Pseudognaphalium leucocephalum rare or endangered?
Pseudognaphalium leucocephalum carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.2, state rank S2.
What habitat does Pseudognaphalium leucocephalum grow in?
Pseudognaphalium leucocephalum grows in Sandy or gravelly benches, dry stream bottoms, canyon bottoms.
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.