See more Packera.

Click to see how Packera is distinguished from Senecio.

Packera werneriifolia. Synonym: Packera saxosa. (Werner's Groundsel, Werner's Ragwort, Hoary Groundsel)
Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)

Subalpine, alpine. Meadows, tundra, scree. Summer.
Sharkstooth Trail, July 18, 2005 and
Calico Trail, August 25, 2014.

In the Four Corners region, Packera werneriifolia is typically found above tree-line in rocky soils.  It often forms 5-12" diameter tight clusters of numerous dark green leaves and dozens of yellow and gold flowers. Leaves, as shown in the second photograph, can also be densely hairy.

This leaf variability is accompanied by other variable morphological characteristics and I actually think it possible that there are several different species with the same name. Compare, for instance, the leaves in this Calflora photo and the leaves and entire plant on SEINet (be sure to click "More Images") with the leaves and plants shown at left.

Packera expert Debra Trock, who wrote the Flora of North America treatment, sees these variables as possible for the species: "Packera werneriifolia is morphologically variable; it occurs throughout the central Rockies and, sporadically, as far west as the Sierra Nevada. Leaf morphology varies from ovate, elliptic, or narrowly elliptic in the Rockies to narrow with revolute margins in California and Arizona. All specimens are characteristically scapiform".

Trock indicates that the plant "grows on rocky talus slopes or in sandy soil in forest openings near or above timberline", but Ackerfield's Flora of Colorado (first edition) indicates the species occurs down to 6,500 feet in Colorado and she includes Packera mancosana (found at ~7,600 feet) in P. werneriifolia. In Ackerfield's 2022 second edition she again incorrectly includes Packera mancosana within P. werneriifolia even though in her correction sheet for her first edition she indicated that P. mancosana is a distinct species. (She has also changed P. mancosana species designation twice to subspecies.) In her second edition, Ackerfield breaks completely with Trock and indicates that the higher elevation Packera should be given the new name of Packera saxosa, and the lower elevation should be P. werneriifolia, and it includes P. mancosana.

Packera werneriifolia frequently is in the company of Senecio blitoides which also forms a dense mat topped by very similar appearing flowers.  S. fremontii can be distinguished from P. werneriifolia by carefully observing the leaves: those of S. fremontii are light green, sessile, prominently toothed, and succulent appearing.  Those of P. werneriifolia are dark green, petioled, finely toothed, and thinner.

"Werneriifolia" means "with leaves similar to those of the Asteraceae genus, Werneria", a species not found in the United States.

Hall and Harbour collected this species in Colorado in 1862 and in 1864 Asa Gray named it Senecio aureus, variety werneriaefolius, changing it to Senecio werneriaefolius in 1883.  In 1981 Weber and Löve published their reasoning for changing the genus to "Packera" and the species to "werneriaefolia" and eventually the specific epithet spelling was changed to "werneriifolia". 

Werner was a German geologist. (More biographical information about Werner.)

John Packer was a Canadian botanist.  (More biographical information about Packer.)

Subalpine, alpine. Meadows, tundra, scree. Summer.
Sharkstooth Trail, July 14, 2006 and
Calico Trail, August 25, 2014.

The two photographs at left show the great contrast in leaf hairiness. At first glance the leaves in the top photograph appear glabrous (without hairs, smooth), but a closer look will show scatterings of hairs. These show up as light streaks on the dark green leaf. See especially the leaf in partial shade just to the left of the flowering stem, which is itself quite hairy.

Subalpine, alpine. Meadows, tundra, scree. Summer.
Sharkstooth Trail, July 18, 2005.

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 werneriifolia