[Dusty Maidens: The Genus Chaenactis in the Casacade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]
Douglas' Dustymaidens, Dustymaidens, Hoary Chaenactis, Hoary False Yarrow
Chaenactis douglasii var. douglasii
Synonyms: Chaenactis douglasii var. achilleaefoila, Chaenactis douglasii var. montana, Chaenactis rubricaulis
- 
Hoary flase yarrow as seen at left atop Lookout Mt., Badger Creek Wilderness...........July 16, 2017. The photo at right shows hoary flase yarrow as seen atop Lookout Mt., Badger Creek Wilderness...........July30, 2021.
The photo at right
shows the seed head of the hoary false yarrow.
Characteristics:
Hoary false yarrow is an upright wildflower with cottony, lacy
pinnate leaves. The one to several stems are erect, relatively straight, and
often unbranched. Plants arise 10-60 cm in height. The leaves are bipinnate
to pinnately dissected (See photo below). The leaf segments are thick and curled,
so the leaves do not look flat.
The inflorescence is a flat-topped corymb. There are several
to many white or pink-tinged disk flowers which look like pincushions. Individual
plants grow up to 1.5 feet tall. Flowers from May into September.
Habitat:
Hoary false yarrow may be found on dry, rocky or sandy soils
from the lowlands to timberline in the mountains.
Range:
Hoary false yarrow may be found from southern British Columbia
to southern California, east of the Cascade and Sierra Nevada ranges, east to
Colorado and northern Arizona.
- 
- 
Hoary false yarrow as seen at left and center blooming on gravelly, talus slopes near the summit of Lookout Mountain, Badger Creek Wilderness..........July 17, 2016. The photo at right shows a close-up of a flower head of hoary false yarrow as seen along the Cedar Creek Trail #457 along the steep descent down to Fifteenmile Creek, Mount Hood National Forest.....July 8, 2022.
- 
The photo above shows a close-up of the disk flowers of hoary false yarrow as seen in the Columbia Hills..........July 7, 2006.
The photo above shows the attractive rosette of basal leaves of hoary false yarrow as seen in the Columbia Hills........July 7, 2006.
Paul Slichter