Perennials, 15-30+ cm; taprooted (caudices erect) or rhizomatous (rhizomes branched). Stems usually 1, rarely 2-3, clustered, irregularly arachnoid-tomentose to lanate-tomentose or glabrescent. Basal leaves (and proximal cauline, relatively turgid) petiolate; blades broadly ovate or lyrate (± pinnately lobed, lateral lobes 1-3 pairs, smaller than terminals), 10-30+ × 10-20+ mm, bases tapering to cuneate, ultimate margins subentire or crenate to coarsely dentate (abaxial faces tomentose). Cauline leaves gradually reduced (sessile; bractlike, entire). Heads 3-6 in cymiform arrays. Peduncles bracteate, irregularly tomentose. Calyculi inconspicuous. Phyllaries (8-)13 or 21, green, 7-10+ mm, densely tomentose proximally, glabrescent distally (tips hair-tufted). Ray florets 8-13; corolla laminae 8-10 mm. Disc florets 60-75+; corolla tubes 2.5-4 mm, limbs 3.5-5 mm. Cypselae 2-2.5 mm, glabrous; pappi 5-7 mm. 2n = 46.

Flowering early Jun-late Aug. Dry, rocky slopes, crevices, granitic outcrops, coniferous woodlands; of conservation concern; 1400-3000 m; Calif.

Packera ionophylla is known only from the San Bernardino, San Gabriel, and Tehachapi mountains and a population on Alamo Mountain in eastern Ventura County.