Dieteria canescens var. ziegleri
Ziegler's aster
(c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Dieteria canescens var. ziegleri (Ziegler's aster) is a native California perennial in the Asteraceae family, recognized by large heads and subshrub habit.
Ziegler's aster is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in the eastern Peninsular Ranges (Santa Rosa Mountains) in dry conifer forest at elevations of 1,400 to 2,470 meters. Flowering from July to October, this plant produces white to lavender ray flowers in heads 14 to 20 millimeters long with broad inflorescences up to 20 millimeters wide when pressed. Growing with spreading or erect stems 10 to 50 centimeters tall, it has loosely spreading to ascending branches. Its leaves are distributed along the stem, with characteristic gray-green coloration that gives the plant its species name "canescens". The plant forms a long-lived perennial herb with well-developed fertile ray flowers and a distinctive branching structure.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species; key features are large heads and subshrub habit
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry conifer forest
Elevation: 1400-2470 m
California counties: Riverside
Bloom period
Dieteria canescens var. ziegleri blooms Jul-Oct.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
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 canescens var. ziegleri native to California?
Yes. Dieteria canescens var. ziegleri is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Dieteria canescens var. ziegleri bloom?
Dieteria canescens var. ziegleri blooms Jul-Oct.
Where in California does Dieteria canescens var. ziegleri grow?
Dieteria canescens var. ziegleri occurs in Riverside, at elevations of 1400-2470 m.
What plant family does Dieteria canescens var. ziegleri belong to?
Dieteria canescens var. ziegleri is in the Asteraceae family, genus Dieteria.
Is Dieteria canescens var. ziegleri rare or endangered?
Dieteria canescens var. ziegleri carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S1.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Dieteria sp.
- Dieteria asteroides — Hoary aster
- Dieteria asteroides var. asteroides — Hoary aster
- Dieteria asteroides var. lagunensis — Mount laguna aster
- Dieteria canescens — Hoary-aster
- Dieteria canescens var. canescens — Hoary aster
- Dimeresia howellii — Doublet
- Dimeresia sp.
- Dimorphotheca ecklonis — Blue & white daisybush
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.