Erigeron bloomeri var. bloomeri
Scabland fleabane
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jim Morefield · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Erigeron bloomeri var. bloomeri (Scabland fleabane) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by key features: no ray petals, rocky/lava habitat, cushion form.
Scabland fleabane is a California native perennial found in the northern Sierra Nevada, Cascade Range, and Great Basin in rocky slopes, lava beds, and meadows at elevations of 800 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces white to lavender flowers in daisy-like heads with strigose (stiff, appressed) herbage. Growing with slender stems 10 to 40 centimeters tall, it forms small tufted clusters with a fibrous root system. Its leaves are narrow and lance-shaped, with basal leaves broader and stem leaves progressively smaller and more linear. The plant is characterized by its dense, stiff hairs covering both the stems and flower heads, giving it a rough, grayish-green appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 45 sympatric species; key features: no ray petals, rocky/lava habitat, cushion form
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky slopes, lava beds, meadows
Elevation: 800-2000 m
Outside California: to Washington, Idaho, Nevada
Bloom period
Erigeron bloomeri var. bloomeri blooms May-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 bloomeri var. bloomeri native to California?
Yes. Erigeron bloomeri var. bloomeri is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Erigeron bloomeri var. bloomeri bloom?
Erigeron bloomeri var. bloomeri blooms May-Jul.
What plant family does Erigeron bloomeri var. bloomeri belong to?
Erigeron bloomeri var. bloomeri is in the Asteraceae family, genus Erigeron.
What habitat does Erigeron bloomeri var. bloomeri grow in?
Erigeron bloomeri var. bloomeri grows in Rocky slopes, lava beds, meadows.
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.