FNPS Plant Database
Carphephorus carnosus
bald-headed carphephorus, pineland chaffhead
Photographs belong to the photographers who allow use for FNPS purposes only. Please contact the photographer for all other uses.
Nomenclature
Common Name:
bald-headed carphephorus, pineland chaffhead
Synonym(s):
Litrisa carnosa (Small)
Genus species:
Carphephorus carnosus
Family:
Asteraceae (Compositae)
Plant Specifics
Form:
flower
Size:
1-2 ft tall by 0.5 ft wide
Life Span:
short-lived perennial
Flower Color:
purple
Fruit Color:
white
Phenology:
winter dormant
Noted For:
Landscaping
Recommended Uses:
Wildflower garden.
Considerations:
Availability:
Propagation:
seed
Light:
Moisture Tolerance:
Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry
Usually moist, occasional inundation ---to--- Not wet but not extremely dry
Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:
Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water
Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
Soil or Other Substrate:
Sand
Soil pH:
Suitable to Grow In:
8A, 8B, 9A, 9B
USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.

Don't know your zone? Click here to search by zip code.
Ecology
Wildlife:
Attracts many butterflies, bees and other pollinators. (Hawthorn Hill Wildflowers).
Native Habitats:
Low sites. Cutthroat seeps, hydric to wet-mesic pine flatwoods, savannas, seep slopes.
Natural Range in Florida:
Visit the USF Libraries Atlas of Florida Plants
Comments:
Ethnobotany:
General Comments:
Endemic to Florida
Citations:
Hammer, Roger. 2018. Complete Guide to Florida Wildflowers. Falcon Guides, Guilford, CT.
Huegel, Craig N. Native Florida Wildflowers (blog). http://hawthornhillwildflowers.blogspot.com/2009/09/pineland-chaffhead-carphephorus.html , accessed 2025.
