Townsendia is a genus of North American plants in the tribe Astereae within the family Asteraceae.

[4][5] These annual, biennial and perennial wildflowers are native to western North America, frequently at high elevations.

A number of taxa are tall, erect plants, like typical daisies.

Others form small, dense, leafy rosettes, or have a more sprawling, prostrate appearance.

Frequently, the flower heads are showy and attractive, with the ray florets in shades of pink, purple, blue, white, and, rarely, yellow.