Erigeron foliosus var. confinis
Leafy fleabane
(c) Madeleine Claire, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Madeleine Claire · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Erigeron foliosus var. confinis (Leafy fleabane) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by narrow leaves and serpentine habitat.
Leafy fleabane is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges in rocky chaparral and woodland habitats, often on serpentine, at elevations up to 2,200 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces white to lavender ray flowers 6 to 12 millimeters long in delicate, open clusters. Growing with slender stems 20 to 60 centimeters tall, it has a sparse, upright growth habit. Its leaves are narrow and linear, 20 to 60 millimeters long and only 1 to 2 millimeters wide, with a lightly hairy surface that gives the plant a soft, textured appearance. The flower heads have distinctive narrow phyllaries with widely scarious (papery) margins, adding to its delicate botanical character.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 29 sympatric species; narrow leaves and serpentine habitat help distinguish
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky sites, chaparral, woodland, often on serpentine
Elevation: < 2200 m
Outside California: southwestern Oregon
Bloom period
Erigeron foliosus var. confinis 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 foliosus var. confinis native to California?
Yes. Erigeron foliosus var. confinis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Erigeron foliosus var. confinis bloom?
Erigeron foliosus var. confinis blooms May-Aug.
What plant family does Erigeron foliosus var. confinis belong to?
Erigeron foliosus var. confinis is in the Asteraceae family, genus Erigeron.
What habitat does Erigeron foliosus var. confinis grow in?
Erigeron foliosus var. confinis grows in Rocky sites, chaparral, woodland, often on serpentine.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Erigeron foliosus var. foliosus — Leafy fleabane
- Erigeron foliosus var. franciscensis — Franciscan erigeron
- Erigeron foliosus var. hartwegii — Hartweg's fleabane
- Erigeron foliosus var. mendocinus — Mendocino erigeron
- Erigeron glacialis — Subalpine fleabane
- Erigeron glacialis var. glacialis — Wandering fleabane
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.