Erigeron flagellaris
Trailing fleabane
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Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Erigeron flagellaris (Trailing fleabane) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by distinctive trailing runners diagnostic.
Trailing fleabane is a California native perennial found in the White and Inyo Mountains on open slopes and woodland areas at elevations of 2,200 to 3,000 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces white flowers with occasional lilac undertones, arranged in heads 6 to 13 millimeters in diameter with 40 to 125 ray flowers. Growing with distinctive herbaceous runners that develop rooting plantlets at their tips, the plant forms low-growing clusters 3 to 15 centimeters tall with strigose stems that become somewhat woody. Its leaves are broadly oblanceolate to elliptic, ranging from 20 to 55 millimeters long, with entire or slightly dentate margins and a strigose surface. The plant develops a fibrous root system with a rarely branched woody caudex, allowing it to thrive in high-elevation mountain habitats.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; distinctive trailing runners diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open slopes, woodland
Elevation: 2200-3000 m
Outside California: western United States to southern British Columbia, southern Alberta, Mexico
Bloom period
Erigeron flagellaris 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 flagellaris native to California?
Yes. Erigeron flagellaris is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Erigeron flagellaris bloom?
Erigeron flagellaris blooms May-Aug.
What plant family does Erigeron flagellaris belong to?
Erigeron flagellaris is in the Asteraceae family, genus Erigeron.
What habitat does Erigeron flagellaris grow in?
Erigeron flagellaris grows in Open slopes, woodland.
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.