Erigeron clokeyi var. pinzliae
Pinzl's fleabane, Pinzl's Fleabane
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Erigeron clokeyi var. pinzliae (Pinzl's fleabane) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by hair type and leaf shape.
Pinzl's fleabane is a California native perennial found in southern Sierra Nevada, Sierra Nevada eastern slopes, and desert mountains in sagebrush scrub to alpine talus at elevations of 2,200 to 3,400 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces white to lavender ray flowers in solitary heads 6 to 12 millimeters wide, with 25 to 55 reflexed rays. Growing 5 to 20 centimeters tall with ascending to erect unbranched stems, it emerges from a stout taproot with a simple caudex. Its basal leaves are oblanceolate, 2 to 8 centimeters long, and covered with stiff spreading to arching hairs that give the leaves a distinctively rough texture. Its small fruit is about 1.8 to 2 millimeters long, topped with 13 to 22 pappus bristles.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 46 sympatric species; key features are hair type and leaf shape
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sagebrush scrub to alpine talus
Elevation: 2200-3400 m
California counties: Inyo, Mono, Fresno
Outside California: to Utah
Bloom period
Erigeron clokeyi var. pinzliae blooms Jun-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 clokeyi var. pinzliae native to California?
Yes. Erigeron clokeyi var. pinzliae is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Erigeron clokeyi var. pinzliae bloom?
Erigeron clokeyi var. pinzliae blooms Jun-Sep.
Where in California does Erigeron clokeyi var. pinzliae grow?
Erigeron clokeyi var. pinzliae occurs in Inyo, Mono, Fresno, at elevations of 2200-3400 m.
What plant family does Erigeron clokeyi var. pinzliae belong to?
Erigeron clokeyi var. pinzliae is in the Asteraceae family, genus Erigeron.
What habitat does Erigeron clokeyi var. pinzliae grow in?
Erigeron clokeyi var. pinzliae grows in Sagebrush scrub to alpine talus.
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.