Erigeron glacialis
Subalpine fleabane, Subalpine Fleabane
(c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Erigeron glacialis (Subalpine fleabane) is a native California perennial in the Asteraceae family, recognized by densely glandular phyllaries with no glandless hairs diagnostic.
Subalpine fleabane is a California native perennial found in alpine and subalpine habitats at elevations of 1,500 to 3,500 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces white to purple ray flowers in heads 2 to 3 centimeters wide, with 30 to 105 delicate rays that curl when dry. Growing 8 to 45 centimeters tall with distally branched stems that are minutely bristly, it emerges from a short rhizome and stout caudex. Its basal leaves are 5 to 20 centimeters long, oblanceolate to spoon-shaped, while stem leaves become progressively smaller and more lance-shaped up the plant. The fruit develops with 4 to 7 fine ribs, topped with 20 to 30 slender pappus bristles.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 62 sympatric species; densely glandular phyllaries with no glandless hairs diagnostic
Habitat and range
California counties: Mariposa, Placer, Shasta, Fresno, Nevada, Tulare, Inyo, Mono, El Dorado, Madera, Tuolumne, Sierra, Siskiyou, Plumas, Alpine, Modoc, Amador
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 glacialis native to California?
Yes. Erigeron glacialis is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Erigeron glacialis grow?
Erigeron glacialis occurs in Mariposa, Placer, Shasta, Fresno, Nevada, Tulare, Inyo, Mono and other counties.
What plant family does Erigeron glacialis belong to?
Erigeron glacialis is in the Asteraceae family, genus Erigeron.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.