Syntrichopappus fremontii
Fremont's syntrichopappus
(c) Martin Purdy, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Syntrichopappus fremontii (Fremont's syntrichopappus) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family.
Fremont's syntrichopappus is a California native annual found in the Mojave Desert and southwestern Sonoran Desert regions in open, sandy to gravelly areas within scrub and woodland at elevations of 600 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces yellow ray flowers 3 to 5 millimeters long with distinctive green peduncles. Growing with stems that are decumbent to erect and reaching approximately 20 centimeters tall, it has a variable growth habit ranging from spreading to upright. Its leaves are uniquely shaped, with proximal leaves wedge-shaped and distal leaves spoon-shaped, typically 5 to 20 millimeters long with tips that are often three-lobed or entire. The fruit is covered in strigose hairs and bears 30 to 40 pappus bristles approximately 2 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated species with no sympatric congeners
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, sandy to gravelly areas in scrub or woodland
Elevation: 600-2500 m
Outside California: to southwestern Utah, northwestern Arizona, northern Baja California
Bloom period
Syntrichopappus fremontii blooms Mar-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Eriophyllum: Syntrichopappus has 5 bracts enfolding ray fruits; Eriophyllum bracts don't enfold fruits.; vs Symphyotrichum: Syntrichopappus entirely woolly-white; Symphyotrichum smooth or only slightly hairy.; vs Oreostemma: Syntrichopappus densely woolly overall; Oreostemma smooth to slightly hairy.; vs Erigeron: Syntrichopappus has dense white wool and 1mm pappus; Erigeron not woolly with longer pappus.; vs Pulicaria: Syntrichopappus has woolly white coating; check Pulicaria for different indument.
Frequently asked questions
Is Syntrichopappus fremontii native to California?
Yes. Syntrichopappus fremontii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Syntrichopappus fremontii bloom?
Syntrichopappus fremontii blooms Mar-Jun.
What plant family does Syntrichopappus fremontii belong to?
Syntrichopappus fremontii is in the Asteraceae family, genus Syntrichopappus.
What habitat does Syntrichopappus fremontii grow in?
Syntrichopappus fremontii grows in Open, sandy to gravelly areas in scrub or 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.