Erigeron eatonii var. plantagineus
Eaton's daisy
(c) Tim Messick, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Tim Messick · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Erigeron eatonii var. plantagineus (Eaton's daisy) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by volcanic rock habitat preference.
Eaton's daisy is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, Cascade Range, and North Coast Ranges in open grassy or sagebrush scrub, generally on volcanic rock at elevations of 1,000 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces white to lavender daisy-like flowers in compact heads approximately 8 to 16 millimeters wide. Growing with slender stems 10 to 23 centimeters tall, it forms delicate clumps with multiple flower heads. Its leaves are narrow and grass-like, typically clustered at the base of the plant with smaller leaves along the stem. The flower heads feature delicate white ray flowers surrounding a small yellow disk, with 16 to 20 fine pappus bristles supporting each tiny fruit.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 44 sympatric species; volcanic rock habitat preference helps distinguish
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open grassy or sagebrush scrub, generally on volcanic rock
Elevation: 1000-2500 m
Outside California: south-central Oregon
Bloom period
Erigeron eatonii var. plantagineus 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 eatonii var. plantagineus native to California?
Yes. Erigeron eatonii var. plantagineus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Erigeron eatonii var. plantagineus bloom?
Erigeron eatonii var. plantagineus blooms May-Aug.
What plant family does Erigeron eatonii var. plantagineus belong to?
Erigeron eatonii var. plantagineus is in the Asteraceae family, genus Erigeron.
What habitat does Erigeron eatonii var. plantagineus grow in?
Erigeron eatonii var. plantagineus grows in Open grassy or sagebrush scrub, generally on volcanic rock.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.