Pseudognaphalium roseum
Rosy cudweed
(c) Leticia Jiménez Hernández, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Pseudognaphalium roseum (Rosy cudweed) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by very low elevation habitat and weakly ridged seeds.
Rosy cudweed is a California native perennial found in the Peninsular Ranges in open, disturbed sites at elevations of 10 to 100 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces white to pink flowers in flat-topped clusters with bell-shaped involucres. Growing with woolly-tomentose stems 50 to 200 centimeters tall that are persistently hairy, it forms dense clusters in disturbed areas. Its lance-oblong to oblanceolate leaves are 3 to 7 centimeters long with wavy margins, crowded near the stem base and somewhat clasping. The plant's distinctive white or woolly covering gives it a soft, fuzzy appearance in its preferred open habitats.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 9 sympatric species; key features are very low elevation habitat and weakly ridged seeds
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, disturbed sites
Elevation: 10-100 m
Outside California: Mexico, Central America
Bloom period
Pseudognaphalium roseum blooms Mar-Jun.
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 roseum native to California?
Yes. Pseudognaphalium roseum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Pseudognaphalium roseum bloom?
Pseudognaphalium roseum blooms Mar-Jun.
What plant family does Pseudognaphalium roseum belong to?
Pseudognaphalium roseum is in the Asteraceae family, genus Pseudognaphalium.
What habitat does Pseudognaphalium roseum grow in?
Pseudognaphalium roseum grows in Open, disturbed sites.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Pseudognaphalium sp. — Cudweed
- Pseudognaphalium stramineum — Cottonbatting plant
- Pseudognaphalium thermale — Small headed cudweed
- Pseudognaphalium beneolens — Cudweed
- Pseudognaphalium biolettii — Two-color rabbit-tobacco
- Pseudognaphalium californicum — Ladies' tobacco
- Psilocarphus brevissimus — Short woollyheads
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.