Erigeron aphanactis var. congestus
Clustered fleabane
Photo: parent species Erigeron aphanactis · (c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Erigeron aphanactis var. congestus (Clustered fleabane) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by differs from var. aphanactis by single head vs multiple heads.
Clustered fleabane is a California native perennial found in the San Bernardino Mountains in sagebrush or juniper scrub at elevations of 1,800 to 2,600 meters. Flowering from May to September, this plant produces white flowers in solitary heads. Growing with unbranched stems, it forms compact clusters in its native habitat. Its leaves are not specifically detailed in the available description. The plant's simple, unbranched structure allows it to thrive in the sparse, high-elevation environments of its native range.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 19 sympatric species; differs from var. aphanactis by single head vs multiple heads
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sagebrush or juniper scrub
Elevation: 1800-2600 m
Outside California: to Utah
Bloom period
Erigeron aphanactis var. congestus blooms May-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Bellis: Erigeron has double-layered pappus (outer scales + inner bristles); Bellis completely lacks pappus.; vs Symphyotrichum: Erigeron has double pappus (2 layers); Symphyotrichum has single layer of uniform bristles.; vs Corethrogyne: Erigeron has simple unbranched stems; Corethrogyne has branched stems.; vs Pseudognaphalium: Erigeron has flat button-like flower heads; Pseudognaphalium has woolly clustered heads without rays.; vs Artemisia: Erigeron has obvious ray petals around yellow disk; Artemisia lacks ray petals entirely.
Frequently asked questions
Is Erigeron aphanactis var. congestus native to California?
Yes. Erigeron aphanactis var. congestus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Erigeron aphanactis var. congestus bloom?
Erigeron aphanactis var. congestus blooms May-Sep.
What plant family does Erigeron aphanactis var. congestus belong to?
Erigeron aphanactis var. congestus is in the Asteraceae family, genus Erigeron.
What habitat does Erigeron aphanactis var. congestus grow in?
Erigeron aphanactis var. congestus grows in Sagebrush or juniper scrub.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · 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.