Ageratina herbacea
Desert ageratina, Desert Ageratina, desert ageratina, desert ageratina
no rights reserved, uploaded by Elizabeth LaGro · CC0
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3
Ageratina herbacea (Desert ageratina) is a native California subshrub in the Asteraceae family.
Desert ageratina is a rare (CNPS 2B.3) California native perennial found in eastern desert mountains including Clark, New York, and Providence Mountains in rocky pinyon and juniper woodland at elevations of 1,500 to 2,200 meters. Flowering from May to June and October to November, this plant produces white flowers in dense clusters with heads 6 to 8 millimeters long. Growing with erect or spreading green stems 45 to 70 centimeters tall that are puberulent, it has a woody caudex. Its generally opposite leaves have blades generally 15 to 55 millimeters long, generally triangular to approximately cordate, glabrous to puberulent and yellowish to light or grayish-green. The fruit is 2 to 3 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 0 sympatric species - geographically isolated
Habitat and range
Habitat: Locally common. Rocky pinyon/juniper woodland
Elevation: 1500-2200 m
Outside California: to Colorado, western Texas, northern Mexico
Bloom period
Ageratina herbacea blooms May-Jun, Oct--Nov.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.3
How to tell it apart
vs Baccharis: Ageratina has opposite leaves and bisexual flowers; Baccharis has alternate leaves and separate male/female plants.; vs Spiraea: Ageratina has composite flower heads; Spiraea has individual 5-petaled flowers in branched clusters.; vs Venegasia: Ageratina has white rayless flowers; Venegasia has large yellow ray petals and huge triangular leaves.; vs Eupatorium: Same genus (Eupatorium is old name); plants are identical.; vs Scrophularia: Ageratina has composite flower heads; Scrophularia has tubular two-lipped flowers typical of figworts.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ageratina herbacea native to California?
Yes. Ageratina herbacea is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ageratina herbacea bloom?
Ageratina herbacea blooms May-Jun, Oct--Nov.
What plant family does Ageratina herbacea belong to?
Ageratina herbacea is in the Asteraceae family, genus Ageratina.
Is Ageratina herbacea rare or endangered?
Ageratina herbacea carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.3, state rank S3.
What habitat does Ageratina herbacea grow in?
Ageratina herbacea grows in Locally common. Rocky pinyon/juniper woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.