Erigeron incomptus
California fleabane
(c) Justin Felder, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Erigeron incomptus (California fleabane) is a native California perennial in the Asteraceae family, recognized by numerous rays and distinctive pappus structure.
California fleabane is a California native perennial found in foothill woodland and rocky sites at elevations up to 700 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces white to lavender rays in daisy-like flower heads 7 to 11 millimeters wide, with generally 75 to 150 delicate ray flowers. Growing 15 to 50 centimeters tall with stems that are simple or branched near the mid-stem and evenly covered in short hairs, it develops from a slender taproot that becomes woody with age. Its basal leaves are long-petioled, approximately oblanceolate, 2 to 6 centimeters long, with lower leaves often clustered and potentially lobed or entire. The plant's leaf surfaces are densely and evenly covered with fine, short hairs, giving it a soft, uniform appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; numerous rays and distinctive pappus structure
Habitat and range
Habitat: Foothill woodland, rocky sites
Elevation: <= 700(1900) m
Outside California: Utah, New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, northwestern Mexico
Bloom period
Erigeron incomptus blooms Mar-May.
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 incomptus native to California?
Yes. Erigeron incomptus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Erigeron incomptus bloom?
Erigeron incomptus blooms Mar-May.
What plant family does Erigeron incomptus belong to?
Erigeron incomptus is in the Asteraceae family, genus Erigeron.
What habitat does Erigeron incomptus grow in?
Erigeron incomptus grows in Foothill woodland, rocky sites.
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.