Erigeron glacialis var. hirsutus
Wandering fleabane
(c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Erigeron glacialis var. hirsutus (Wandering fleabane) is a native California perennial in the Asteraceae family, recognized by bristly hairs distinguish from var. glacialis.
Wandering fleabane is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, central Sierra Nevada, and eastern Sierra Nevada in alpine meadows, talus slopes, and mountain clearings at elevations of 2,200 to 3,200 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces white to lavender flowers with yellow centers in daisy-like heads. Growing with erect stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it forms dense clusters with distinctive bristly foliage. Its leaves are notably hairy, with surfaces covered in stiff, long bristly hairs that give the plant a rough, textured appearance. In alpine environments, this hardy fleabane demonstrates remarkable adaptation to high-elevation, exposed mountain habitats.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 40 sympatric species; bristly hairs distinguish from var. glacialis
Habitat and range
Habitat: Clearings, talus, alpine meadows
Elevation: 2200-3200 m
California counties: Mono, Madera, Fresno, Tuolumne, Mariposa, Tulare, Sierra, Modoc, Siskiyou, Inyo, Calaveras
Bloom period
Erigeron glacialis var. hirsutus blooms Jul-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 glacialis var. hirsutus native to California?
Yes. Erigeron glacialis var. hirsutus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Erigeron glacialis var. hirsutus bloom?
Erigeron glacialis var. hirsutus blooms Jul-Aug.
Where in California does Erigeron glacialis var. hirsutus grow?
Erigeron glacialis var. hirsutus occurs in Mono, Madera, Fresno, Tuolumne, Mariposa, Tulare, Sierra, Modoc and other counties, at elevations of 2200-3200 m.
What plant family does Erigeron glacialis var. hirsutus belong to?
Erigeron glacialis var. hirsutus is in the Asteraceae family, genus Erigeron.
What habitat does Erigeron glacialis var. hirsutus grow in?
Erigeron glacialis var. hirsutus grows in Clearings, talus, alpine meadows.
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.