Senecio pattersonensis
Mount patterson senecio, Mount Patterson Senecio
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3
Senecio pattersonensis (Mount patterson senecio) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by tiny size (<10 cm), narrow wavy leaves, high-alpine talus habitat.
Mount patterson senecio is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native perennial found in central Sierra Nevada and eastern Sierra Nevada on talus slopes at elevations of 3,000 to 3,700 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces white ray flowers with yellow disk centers in heads 10 to 15 millimeters wide. Growing as a compact herb only 2 to 10 centimeters tall with 1 to 3 occasionally reddish stems emerging from a branched rhizome, it forms delicate clusters on rocky alpine terrain. Its leaves are oblanceolate to lance-linear, 1 to 4 centimeters long and 3 to 5 millimeters wide, with margins that are entire or occasionally slightly wavy. The compact plant's light green phyllaries and small stature make it well-adapted to harsh high-elevation environments.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 18 sympatric species; key features are tiny size (<10 cm), narrow wavy leaves, high-alpine talus habitat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Talus slopes
Elevation: 3000-3700 m
Outside California: Nevada
Bloom period
Senecio pattersonensis blooms Jul-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.3
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 pattersonensis native to California?
Yes. Senecio pattersonensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Senecio pattersonensis bloom?
Senecio pattersonensis blooms Jul-Aug.
What plant family does Senecio pattersonensis belong to?
Senecio pattersonensis is in the Asteraceae family, genus Senecio.
Is Senecio pattersonensis rare or endangered?
Senecio pattersonensis carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.3, state rank S3.
What habitat does Senecio pattersonensis grow in?
Senecio pattersonensis grows in Talus slopes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.