Pseudognaphalium macounii
Macoun's everlasting
(c) Kevin Speray, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Pseudognaphalium macounii (Macoun's everlasting) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by mid-elevation habitat, glandular stems, and non-ridged seeds.
Macoun's everlasting is a California native annual herb found in southern Sierra Nevada Foothill regions on open slopes, meadows, and floodplains at elevations of 800 to 2,300 meters. Flowering from July to October, this plant produces cream to straw-colored flowers in flat-topped clusters with delicate, transparent phyllaries. Growing with glandular-hairy stems 40 to 90 centimeters tall, it has a distinctively scented appearance with elongated internodes. Its leaves range from 3 to 10 centimeters long, lanceolate to oblanceolate, with lower leaves clasping the stem and becoming narrower toward the top, featuring stalked-glandular surfaces and tomentose undersides. The plant produces numerous pistillate flowers, typically 47 to 101 per cluster, with a subtle white-tomentose covering on its upper stems.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; key features are mid-elevation habitat, glandular stems, and non-ridged seeds
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open slopes, meadows, floodplains
Elevation: 800-2300 m
Outside California: Oregon to southern Canada, eastern United States, Mexico
Bloom period
Pseudognaphalium macounii blooms Jul-Oct.
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 macounii native to California?
Yes. Pseudognaphalium macounii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Pseudognaphalium macounii bloom?
Pseudognaphalium macounii blooms Jul-Oct.
What plant family does Pseudognaphalium macounii belong to?
Pseudognaphalium macounii is in the Asteraceae family, genus Pseudognaphalium.
What habitat does Pseudognaphalium macounii grow in?
Pseudognaphalium macounii grows in Open slopes, meadows, floodplains.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.