Raillardella pringlei
Showy raillardella
(c) Katherine Scott, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Raillardella pringlei (Showy raillardella) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by orange-red radiate heads and wet habitat preference.
Showy raillardella is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, specifically the Trinity Alps and Scott Mountains, in wet meadows, streambanks, and conifer forests on serpentine-derived soils at elevations of 1,300 to 2,200 meters. Flowering from July to October, this plant produces striking orange to reddish ray flowers 6 to 20 millimeters long in radiate heads with bell-shaped clusters. Growing 25 to 50 centimeters tall with an upright habit, it has an open, somewhat flat-topped inflorescence supported by slender stems often subtended by alternate bracts. Its leaves are primarily basal or opposite, linear to lanceolate, 2.5 to 15 centimeters long, and range from entire to minutely dentate. The plant produces distinctive club-shaped fruits 5 to 8 millimeters long, crowned with 8 to 17 pappus scales.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; distinguished by orange-red radiate heads and wet habitat preference
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet meadows, streambanks, seeps, on serpentine-derived soils, in conifer forest
Elevation: 1300-2200 m
Bloom period
Raillardella pringlei blooms Jul-Oct.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
How to tell it apart
vs Agoseris: Raillardella has clustered yellow ray flowers with multiple florets per head; Agoseris has dandelion-like single heads.; vs Erigeron: Raillardella has all-yellow flowers and basal leaves; Erigeron has white/purple rays and leafy stems.; vs Arnica: Raillardella keeps leaves in basal rosettes; Arnica has opposite pairs climbing up the stem.; vs Carlquistia: Raillardella has mostly basal leaves; Carlquistia has leaves well-distributed along the stem.; vs Trichoptilium: Raillardella is a high-elevation perennial with basal leaves; Trichoptilium is a desert annual with stem leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Raillardella pringlei native to California?
Yes. Raillardella pringlei is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Raillardella pringlei bloom?
Raillardella pringlei blooms Jul-Oct.
What plant family does Raillardella pringlei belong to?
Raillardella pringlei is in the Asteraceae family, genus Raillardella.
Is Raillardella pringlei rare or endangered?
Raillardella pringlei carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2S3.
What habitat does Raillardella pringlei grow in?
Raillardella pringlei grows in Wet meadows, streambanks, seeps, on serpentine-derived soils, in conifer forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · 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.