Pyrrocoma uniflora var. uniflora
Plantain goldenweed
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Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Pyrrocoma uniflora var. uniflora (Plantain goldenweed) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by . Single head with many rays, sharply toothed thin leaves.
Plantain goldenweed is a California native perennial found in the Great Basin in alkaline soils of mountain meadows and open conifer forest near hot springs at elevations of 1,400 to 2,900 meters. Flowering from May to September, this plant produces yellow flowers in compact heads with involucres 6 to 9 millimeters long. Growing with herbage initially covered in dense white wool that becomes smoother with age, it forms clumps with erect stems. Its leaves are densely tomentose, creating a soft, grayish-green appearance across the plant. The uniform phyllaries and compact growth make this goldenweed a distinctive presence in high-elevation mountain habitats.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 11 sympatric species. Single head with many rays, sharply toothed thin leaves.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Alkaline soils of mountain meadows, open conifer forest, near hot springs
Elevation: 1400-2900 m
Outside California: to Oregon, northern Canada, Wyoming, Colorado
Bloom period
Pyrrocoma uniflora var. uniflora blooms May-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 uniflora var. uniflora native to California?
Yes. Pyrrocoma uniflora var. uniflora is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Pyrrocoma uniflora var. uniflora bloom?
Pyrrocoma uniflora var. uniflora blooms May-Sep.
What plant family does Pyrrocoma uniflora var. uniflora belong to?
Pyrrocoma uniflora var. uniflora is in the Asteraceae family, genus Pyrrocoma.
What habitat does Pyrrocoma uniflora var. uniflora grow in?
Pyrrocoma uniflora var. uniflora grows in Alkaline soils of mountain meadows, open conifer forest, near hot springs.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Pyrrocoma apargioides — Alpine flames
- Pyrrocoma carthamoides var. cusickii — Large-flowered goldenweed
- Pyrrocoma hirta — Tacky goldenweed
- Pyrrocoma hirta var. hirta — Sticky pyrrocoma
- Pyrrocoma hirta var. lanulosa — Tacky goldenweed
- Pyrrocoma lanceolata — Lance-leaved goldenweed
- Rafinesquia californica — California chicory
- Rafinesquia neomexicana — Desert chicory
- Rafinesquia sp.
- Raillardella argentea — Silky raillardella
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.