Perennials, 30-80+ cm; fibrous-rooted (bases weakly spreading). Stems 1, glabrous or bases hairy. Basal leaves (and proximal cauline, relatively turgid or leathery) petiolate; blades reniform to suborbiculate, 40-70+ × 40-80+ mm, bases truncate to cordate, margins dentate or shallowly lobed. Cauline leaves abruptly reduced (petiolate or sessile, oblanceolate, pinnatifid; distal sessile, bractlike). Heads 3-6+ in compact, cymiform arrays. Peduncles ebracteate (or bractlets 1-2), glabrous. Calyculi 0 or inconspicuous. Phyllaries (13-)21, dark green with yellow margins, 8-11+ mm, glabrous. Ray florets 13 or 21; corolla laminae 10-12+ mm. Disc florets 40-60+; corolla tubes 3-4 mm, limbs 2.5-3.5 mm. Cypselae 5-6 mm, glabrous; pappi 5-7 mm.

Flowering mid Apr-late May. Recently burned chaparral on mountain slopes, gabbroic soils; of conservation concern; 700-1100 m; Calif.

Packera ganderi is known only from the mountain ranges of San Diego County, where it has been collected from three sites.