Erigeron barbellulatus
Shining fleabane
(c) Tom Hilton, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Erigeron barbellulatus (Shining fleabane) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by distinctive white-shiny stem bases and leaf sheaths.
Shining fleabane is a California native perennial found in northern and central Sierra Nevada Mountains on gravelly or rocky slopes from sagebrush to subalpine forest at elevations of 2,100 to 3,300 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces white to lavender flowers that dry to a bluish tone in heads 15 to 18 millimeters wide. Growing with ascending stems 5 to 15 centimeters tall, it emerges from a caudex with slender rhizome-like branches and features white-shiny or purplish stems. Its leaves are predominantly basal, narrowly oblanceolate, 2 to 5 centimeters long and 2 to 5 millimeters wide, with white-shiny hard bases that enclose the lower stem. The ray flowers number 15 to 35, creating a delicate and distinctive appearance in high-elevation alpine habitats.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 19 sympatric species; distinctive white-shiny stem bases and leaf sheaths
Habitat and range
Habitat: Gravelly or rocky slopes, sagebrush/pine to subalpine forest
Elevation: 2100-3300 m
Bloom period
Erigeron barbellulatus blooms Jun-Jul.
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 barbellulatus native to California?
Yes. Erigeron barbellulatus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Erigeron barbellulatus bloom?
Erigeron barbellulatus blooms Jun-Jul.
What plant family does Erigeron barbellulatus belong to?
Erigeron barbellulatus is in the Asteraceae family, genus Erigeron.
What habitat does Erigeron barbellulatus grow in?
Erigeron barbellulatus grows in Gravelly or rocky slopes, sagebrush/pine to subalpine forest.
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.