Dieteria asteroides var. asteroides
Hoary aster
Photo: parent species Dieteria asteroides · (c) Sandra Keller, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Dieteria asteroides var. asteroides (Hoary aster) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by leaf width, serration, and phyllary tip length.
Hoary aster is a California native perennial found in southern California coastal regions, San Jacinto Mountains, and eastern desert areas of Sonoran province in desert scrub, coastal scrub, and dry fields at elevations around 100 meters. Flowering from March to June and September to October, this plant produces white to lavender flowers in hemispheric heads with long-acuminate phyllary tips 3 to 6 millimeters long. Growing with upright stems that reach moderate heights, it develops mid-stem leaves 6 to 15 millimeters wide with slightly serrated edges. Its leaves are arranged along the stem with a somewhat irregular, slightly toothed appearance. The plant's distinctive flower heads and serrated foliage make it a characteristic element of its arid and coastal habitats.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species; key features are leaf width, serration, and phyllary tip length
Habitat and range
Habitat: Desert scrub, coastal scrub, dry fields
Elevation: +- 100 m.
Outside California: to southwestern New Mexico, northern Mexico
Bloom period
Dieteria asteroides var. asteroides blooms Mar-Jun, Sep--Oct.
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 var. asteroides native to California?
Yes. Dieteria asteroides var. asteroides is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Dieteria asteroides var. asteroides bloom?
Dieteria asteroides var. asteroides blooms Mar-Jun, Sep--Oct.
What plant family does Dieteria asteroides var. asteroides belong to?
Dieteria asteroides var. asteroides is in the Asteraceae family, genus Dieteria.
What habitat does Dieteria asteroides var. asteroides grow in?
Dieteria asteroides var. asteroides grows in Desert scrub, coastal scrub, dry fields.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
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.