Erigeron glaucus
Seaside daisy
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Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Erigeron glaucus (Seaside daisy) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by coastal habitat and fleshy leaves diagnostic.
Seaside daisy is a California native perennial found in coastal bioregions including northern California Coast, Central California Coast, southern coastal California, and northern Channel Islands in coastal bluffs, dunes, and beaches at elevations below 20 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces white to pink or purple daisy-like flowers 15 to 35 millimeters in diameter with up to 300 delicate ray petals. Growing with decumbent stems 5 to 30 centimeters tall, it spreads from thick rhizomes and forms dense clusters with branches near the mid-stem. Its thick, fleshy leaves range from 2 to 13 centimeters long, appearing spoon-shaped to widely obovate, with proximal leaves having wing-like petioles and sometimes sporting soft spreading hairs. The fruit develops with 2 to 6 ribs, supported by 20 to 30 fine pappus bristles.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 15 sympatric species; coastal habitat and fleshy leaves diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal bluffs, dunes, beaches
Elevation: < 20 m
Outside California: Oregon
Bloom period
Erigeron glaucus blooms May-Jul.
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 glaucus native to California?
Yes. Erigeron glaucus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Erigeron glaucus bloom?
Erigeron glaucus blooms May-Jul.
What plant family does Erigeron glaucus belong to?
Erigeron glaucus is in the Asteraceae family, genus Erigeron.
What habitat does Erigeron glaucus grow in?
Erigeron glaucus grows in Coastal bluffs, dunes, beaches.
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.