Montane, subalpine.  Woodlands, openings. Summer.
Above: Lizard Head Wilderness, Navajo Lake Trail, July 16, 2018.
Left: Lone Mesa State Park, July 9, 2008.

Packera crocata is not common but when it finds suitable habitat, it can be abundant  --  and it can be spotted because of its rich red, orange, and yellow buds and flowers.  Look for Packera crocata scattered in moist, thickly vegetated meadows of the high mountains. 

Basal leaves are largest; upper leaves are quite small.  See the last two photographs below for leaves.

"Packera" is for John Packer, 20th century Canadian Professor of Botany.  (More biographical information.)  "Crocata" is Greek for "orange".  All species of the genus Packera are often given the common name, "Groundsel", as are flowers of the Senecio genus to which the genus Packera formerly belonged.

Ackerfield's Flora of Colorado indicates that Packera crocata and Packera dimorphophylla are the same species and should have the P. crocata name. No other flora that I am aware of agrees with her; they all keep the two as distinct species.

Montane, subalpine.  Woodlands, openings. Summer.
Groundhog Meadow Trail, July 31, 2004.

Montane, subalpine.  Woodlands, openings. Summer.
Navajo Lake Trail, July 11, 2006.

My wife and I find the shapes and colors of Packera crocata so very delicate and appealing.

Montane, subalpine.  Woodlands, openings. Summer.
Lone Mesa State Park, July 9, 2008 and
Navajo Lake Trail, August 6, 2014 .

Montane, subalpine.  Woodlands, openings. Summer.
Lone Mesa State Park, July 9, 2008.

Packera crocata basal leaves are two to five inches long, entire to minutely lobed, long-petioled, and vertical.  Upper stem leaves are lobed, often clasping, small, and reduced in size upward.

Montane, subalpine.  Woodlands, openings. Summer.
Lone Mesa State Park, July 9, 2008.

I have blotted out the background plants so you can more clearly see the Packera crocata plant.  Note especially the various leaf shapes and reduced sizes as you ascend the stem. Basil leaves are long-petioled; stem leaves clasp and are considerably smaller.

Range map © John Kartesz,
Floristic Synthesis of North America

State Color Key

Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Packera crocata