Chaenactis thompsonii is a North American species of flowering plants in the aster family known by the common name Thompson's pincushion and native to Washington State.

Along with Lomatium cuspidatum, Oreocarya thompsonii, and Poa curtifolia, it is a strong indicator for serpentine in the area.

[1][6][4] Chaenactis thompsonii is a perennial up to 30 cm (12 inches) tall, usually not forming extensive clumps or mats.

[1][4][7] Leaves are sparsely woolly and singly pinnate with 2-5 pairs of generally flat entire lobes from multiple stems.

[1][4] The somewhat similar and much more widespread Chaenactis douglasii usually has doubly pinnate leaves, produces much taller flowering stem, and does not grow in serpentine soils.