We describe two new varieties of the North American species complex Packera paupercula (Michaux) Á. Löve & D. Löve (Asteraceae, Senecioneae): variety savannarum R. R. Kowal from the American upper Midwest and variety appalachiana A. M. Mahoney from the southeastern United States. The new combination P. paupercula var. pseudotomentosa (Mackenzie & Bush) R. R. Kowal from the Midwest is also established. Because of their pubescence, these varieties have been previously included within a broadly circumscribed P. plattensis (Nuttall) W. A. Weber & Á. Löve. Their recognition is based on a biosystematic study, which included morphological and ecological observations in the field and in a transplant garden experiment, and chromosome counts.