Anaphalis margaritacea is a wildflower of broad world distribution in bicoastal North America and Asia, as well as an alien species in Europe. Typical habitats are woodlands, roadsides and other disturbed places at elevations below 3200 meters.

Known by the common name of Western pearly everlasting, this slender stemmed wildflower attains a height of 20 to 120 centimeters. The sessile, linear to lanceolate leaves are three to ten centimeters long. The leaves are entire, with green or gray above, and white-tomentose on the lower leaf surface. The flower color is pearl white.