Flower profile
Hoary townsend daisy
Townsendia incana
Hoary townsend daisy (Townsendia incana) is a flowering plant in the Asteraceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–September across the U.S.
Hoary townsend daisy is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Utah it's most often seen in bloom in April–September.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Utah
Quick look
- It belongs to the Asteraceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a annual, biennial, perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 7 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to Utah. NatureServe
- In Utah, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–September. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 1,089 research-grade sightings of it in Utah, ranking #46 among the 153 flowers on our Utah list. iNaturalist
When does it bloom?
In Utah, most flowering sightings come in April–September.
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
- Utah
- No list Utah has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Utah ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Utah.
- Rare elsewhere
- Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: NV (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.
It isn't on the ASPCA plant list. For context only: ASPCA lists a related species, Townsendia sericea (“Easter Daisy”), as non-toxic to dogs and cats. That doesn't tell us about this species, so keep pets away to be safe. ASPCA
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records hoary townsend daisy in 7 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming.
Utah counties with USDA records: Beaver, Carbon, Daggett, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Kane, Piute, San Juan, Sevier, Uintah, Washington, Wayne.
Names, range and relatives
Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Townsendia arizonica.
County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 45 counties across 6 states; the most are in Utah (15), Colorado (9), New Mexico (6).
More from the Asteraceae family (212 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Common yarrow, Goldenrods, White snakeroot, Sunflowers, Chicory, Black-eyed Susan, Bull thistle, Common dandelion.
More Utah flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile TOIN.
- iNaturalist, Townsendia incana: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Utah: Utah noxious weed list (Utah Admin. Code R68-9-3).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Townsendia incana (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: ASPCA.
- Photo: James (Jim) Duggan via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.