Dieteria asteroides
Hoary aster
(c) Sandra Keller, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Dieteria asteroides (Hoary aster) is a native California perennial in the Asteraceae family, recognized by including its own varieties; key features are clasping leaves and large radiate heads.
Hoary aster is a California native perennial herb found in rocky mountain habitats across the state's mountainous regions. Flowering from July to October, this plant produces blue to purple ray flowers in radiate heads that are 1 to 2 centimeters long, creating delicate lavender-blue displays. Growing to heights of up to 1 meter with stems that are generally canescent-puberulent and often sparsely glandular, it develops an upright and distinctive form. Its leaves are lanceolate to oblanceolate, measuring 3 to 10 centimeters long, with margins that range from nearly entire to irregularly dentate or serrate, and the uppermost leaves clasping the stem. The plant's phyllaries are arranged in 5 to 12 series, with acute to long-acuminate tips that are typically hairy and sometimes glandular throughout.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species including its own varieties; key features are clasping leaves and large radiate heads
Habitat and range
California counties: Imperial, Riverside
How to tell it apart
vs Corethrogyne: Dieteria has small heads under 3cm; Corethrogyne typically larger heads.; vs Symphyotrichum: Dieteria has shorter rays (6-20mm); Symphyotrichum typically longer rays.; vs Erigeron: Dieteria heads under 3cm with 6-20mm rays; Erigeron often smaller with narrower, more numerous rays.; vs Machaeranthera: Dieteria has simple entire to toothed leaves; Machaeranthera has fern-like dissected leaves.; vs Xylorhiza: Dieteria has small heads under 3cm; Xylorhiza has large showy heads over 3cm.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dieteria asteroides native to California?
Yes. Dieteria asteroides is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Dieteria asteroides grow?
Dieteria asteroides occurs in Imperial, Riverside.
What plant family does Dieteria asteroides belong to?
Dieteria asteroides is in the Asteraceae family, genus Dieteria.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.