Erigeron compactus
Compact daisy, Compact Daisy
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3
Erigeron compactus (Compact daisy) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by no sympatric species.
Compact daisy is a rare (CNPS 2B.3) California native perennial found in the White and Inyo Mountains in rocky slopes and pinyon/juniper woodland at elevations of 1,800 to 2,300 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces white to lilac flowers with rays 7 to 11 millimeters long, sometimes showing rose or lilac tones and coiling when dry. Growing as a small, tightly clustered herb just 2 to 8 centimeters tall with an unbranched stem covered in short white appressed hairs, it emerges from a short-branched caudex and taproot. Its basal leaves are narrow and linear, 5 to 25 millimeters long, densely covered in fine strigose hairs. The solitary flower head is compact, with involucre 5 to 8 millimeters long and 7 to 17 millimeters in diameter, featuring fine-strigose phyllaries with inconspicuous minute glands.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; no sympatric species
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky slopes, pinyon/juniper woodland
Elevation: 1800-2300 m
Outside California: to Utah
Bloom period
Erigeron compactus blooms May-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.3
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 compactus native to California?
Yes. Erigeron compactus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Erigeron compactus bloom?
Erigeron compactus blooms May-Jun.
What plant family does Erigeron compactus belong to?
Erigeron compactus is in the Asteraceae family, genus Erigeron.
Is Erigeron compactus rare or endangered?
Erigeron compactus carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.3, state rank S3.
What habitat does Erigeron compactus grow in?
Erigeron compactus grows in Rocky slopes, pinyon/juniper woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.