Senecio fremontii var. occidentalis
Western dwarf mountain ragwort, Western Dwarf Mountain Ragwort
Photo: parent species Senecio fremontii · (c) Justin, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Senecio fremontii var. occidentalis (Western dwarf mountain ragwort) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by low stature, few heads, small phyllaries, and alpine habitat.
Western dwarf mountain ragwort is a California native perennial found in the Sierra Nevada (excluding northern High Sierra), San Bernardino Mountains, and eastern Sierra Nevada in rocky subalpine and alpine sites at elevations of 2,800 to 4,000 meters. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces yellow flower heads with 35 to 45 disk flowers arranged in small clusters of 1 to 4 heads. Growing as a compact plant 10 to 20 centimeters tall with erect stems, it has a distinctive growth pattern with smaller, fewer leaves toward the stem tips. Its leaves are progressively reduced in size up the stem, creating a delicate, clustered appearance characteristic of high-elevation alpine environments. The fruit is small, measuring 3 to 3.5 millimeters long, typical of its diminutive mountain habitat.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 19 sympatric species; key features are low stature, few heads, small phyllaries, and alpine habitat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky subalpine, alpine sites
Elevation: 2800-4000 m
Outside California: western Nevada
Bloom period
Senecio fremontii var. occidentalis blooms Jul-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. occidentalis native to California?
Yes. Senecio fremontii var. occidentalis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Senecio fremontii var. occidentalis bloom?
Senecio fremontii var. occidentalis blooms Jul-Sep.
What plant family does Senecio fremontii var. occidentalis belong to?
Senecio fremontii var. occidentalis is in the Asteraceae family, genus Senecio.
What habitat does Senecio fremontii var. occidentalis grow in?
Senecio fremontii var. occidentalis grows in Rocky subalpine, alpine sites.
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.