Senecio fremontii var. fremontii
Dwarf mountain ragwort, Dwarf Mountain Ragwort
Photo: parent species Senecio fremontii · (c) Justin, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Senecio fremontii var. fremontii (Dwarf mountain ragwort) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by low stature, thick fleshy leaves, and subalpine rocky habitat.
Dwarf mountain ragwort is a California native perennial found in the High Cascade Range and Warner Mountains in talus slopes and subalpine conifer woodlands at elevations of 2,500 to 3,500 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces white to yellow flowers in heads of 3 to 5 clusters with approximately 40 to 50 disk flowers. Growing 10 to 30 centimeters tall with erect stems that are well-branched and compact, it forms a dense alpine cushion. Its leaves are well-developed with distal leaves prominently displayed, creating a tidy, structured appearance. The small fruits are 2.5 to 3 millimeters long, contributing to its delicate mountain form.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 14 sympatric species; key features are low stature, thick fleshy leaves, and subalpine rocky habitat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Talus slopes, rocky sites, subalpine conifer woodland
Elevation: 2500-3500 m
Outside California: to British Columbia, Alberta, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada
Bloom period
Senecio fremontii var. fremontii blooms Jun-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Packera: Senecio has larger leaves (over 2.5 inches) and often black-tipped bracts; Packera has tiny leaves (under 1.5 inches) with green or reddish tips.; vs Sonchus: Senecio has yellow daisy flowers with a neat single row of bracts; Sonchus has dandelion-like flowers and milky sap when broken.; vs Dudleya: Senecio is in the sunflower family with daisy flowers; Dudleya is a succulent with thick fleshy leaves and star-shaped flowers.; vs Ericameria: Senecio has one main row of equal bracts around flower heads; Ericameria has 2-4 overlapping rows of unequal bracts.; vs Taraxacum: Senecio has branching stems with multiple flower heads; Taraxacum has leafless hollow stems with single dandelion-like heads.
Frequently asked questions
Is Senecio fremontii var. fremontii native to California?
Yes. Senecio fremontii var. fremontii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Senecio fremontii var. fremontii bloom?
Senecio fremontii var. fremontii blooms Jun-Sep.
What plant family does Senecio fremontii var. fremontii belong to?
Senecio fremontii var. fremontii is in the Asteraceae family, genus Senecio.
What habitat does Senecio fremontii var. fremontii grow in?
Senecio fremontii var. fremontii grows in Talus slopes, rocky sites, subalpine conifer woodland.
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.