Erigeron breweri var. porphyreticus
Brewer's fleabane
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jim Morefield · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Erigeron breweri var. porphyreticus (Brewer's fleabane) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by key features: wiry brittle stems, long stiff spreading hairs on bracts.
Brewer's fleabane is a California native perennial found in the southern California Transverse Ranges, southern Sierra Nevada, and Mojave Desert in open, rocky sagebrush to yellow-pine forest at elevations of 1,200 to 2,600 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces white to lavender flowers with delicate, translucent phyllary hairs that spread stiffly from thick bases. Growing with wiry, brittle stems 20 to 30 centimeters tall, it forms a compact, understated presence in its dry mountain habitats. Its leaves are slender, ranging from 5 to 30 millimeters long, with minimal surface hairiness that contributes to the plant's subtle texture. The plant's distinctive phyllaries with long, thick-based hairs give it a unique character among mountain wildflowers.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 27 sympatric species; key features: wiry brittle stems, long stiff spreading hairs on bracts
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, rocky sagebrush to yellow-pine forest
Elevation: 1200-2600 m
Outside California: southwestern Nevada
Bloom period
Erigeron breweri var. porphyreticus blooms May-Aug.
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 breweri var. porphyreticus native to California?
Yes. Erigeron breweri var. porphyreticus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Erigeron breweri var. porphyreticus bloom?
Erigeron breweri var. porphyreticus blooms May-Aug.
What plant family does Erigeron breweri var. porphyreticus belong to?
Erigeron breweri var. porphyreticus is in the Asteraceae family, genus Erigeron.
What habitat does Erigeron breweri var. porphyreticus grow in?
Erigeron breweri var. porphyreticus grows in Open, rocky sagebrush to yellow-pine 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.