Pyrrocoma apargioides
Alpine flames, Alpine Flames
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Pyrrocoma apargioides (Alpine flames) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by . Single head vs. clustered heads is key distinguishing feature.
Alpine flames is a California native perennial found in the Sierra Nevada and eastern Sierra Nevada on rocky slopes, meadows, and forest openings at elevations of 2,200 to 3,800 meters. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces distinctive yellow ray flowers with reddened undersides, creating bright heads up to 2 centimeters in diameter. Growing with compact stems 5 to 18 centimeters tall and few leaves, it forms a low, tightly clustered growth habit. Its basal leaves are leathery, approximately 4 to 10 centimeters long, with coarse teeth or irregular cuts, giving the plant a rugged alpine appearance. The plant produces fruit 2.5 to 6 millimeters long with a tan pappus, typical of its high-elevation mountain habitat.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species. Single head vs. clustered heads is key distinguishing feature.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky slopes, meadows, forest openings
Elevation: 2200-3800 m
Outside California: western Nevada
Bloom period
Pyrrocoma apargioides blooms Jul-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Heterotheca: Pyrrocoma has 3-4 angled fruits and prominent basal rosette; Heterotheca has round fruits.; vs Solidago: Pyrrocoma grows from stout taproot with basal rosette in alpine areas; Solidago lacks prominent basal rosette.; vs Xanthisma: Pyrrocoma has 3-4 angled fruits from basal rosette; Xanthisma has round fruits and branched stems.; vs Tonestus: Pyrrocoma has variable hairiness (smooth to woolly); Tonestus is always sticky-glandular.; vs Petradoria: Pyrrocoma grows in alpine areas with angled fruits; Petradoria is desert-only with phyllaries in vertical ranks.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pyrrocoma apargioides native to California?
Yes. Pyrrocoma apargioides is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Pyrrocoma apargioides bloom?
Pyrrocoma apargioides blooms Jul-Sep.
What plant family does Pyrrocoma apargioides belong to?
Pyrrocoma apargioides is in the Asteraceae family, genus Pyrrocoma.
What habitat does Pyrrocoma apargioides grow in?
Pyrrocoma apargioides grows in Rocky slopes, meadows, forest openings.
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.