Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Malacothrix saxatilis is a species of flowering plant in the aster family known by the common name cliff desertdandelion. It is endemic to California, where it grows in the central and southern coastal hills and mountain ranges. It is a perennial herb growing 30 to 60 centimeters tall from a rhizome and caudex unit. The leaves are variable in size and shape and may be lobed or not. The flower cluster is an array of flower heads lined with lance-shaped phyllaries. The ray florets are 1 or 2 centimeters long and white in color. There are five varieties which intergrade, some of which are very limited in distribution.

Plant type

Perennial herb

Size

1 - 2 ft Tall

Calscape icon
Color

White

Flowering season

Winter, Summer, Fall

Sun

Full Sun

Water

Extremely Low, Very Low

Soil drainage

Fast

Propagation

For propagating by seed: No treatment. gives slow and sporadic germination.

Site type

Sand dunes and open places

Plant communities

Chaparral, Coastal Sage Scrub, Coastal Strand, Foothill Woodland, Mixed Evergreen Forest

Bees
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 4 likely

Confirmed Likely

Alfalfa Looper Moth

Autographa californica

Cucullia comstocki

Heliolonche joaquinensis

Heliolonche pictipennis