Erigeron inornatus var. keilii
Keil's daisy
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Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3
Erigeron inornatus var. keilii (Keil's daisy) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by dense stiff gray hairs, southern Sierra Nevada location.
Keil's daisy is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native perennial found in southern Sierra Nevada Mountains in Fresno and Tulare counties, inhabiting dry slopes, meadows, and conifer forests at elevations of 1,200 to 2,200 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces white to pale lavender daisy-like flowers in small, delicate clusters. Growing with erect stems 40 to 65 centimeters tall, it features densely gray-appearing stems covered in short, stiff, slightly spreading hairs. Its leaves are short and strigose, with a soft, muted gray-green appearance that blends subtly with its alpine and forest habitats. The plant's inner flower bracts measure 4.5 to 6 millimeters long, contributing to its understated but elegant botanical structure.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 40 sympatric species; key features are dense stiff gray hairs, southern Sierra Nevada location
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry slopes, meadows, conifer forest
Elevation: 1200-2200 m
Bloom period
Erigeron inornatus var. keilii blooms Jun-Sep.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.3
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 inornatus var. keilii native to California?
Yes. Erigeron inornatus var. keilii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Erigeron inornatus var. keilii bloom?
Erigeron inornatus var. keilii blooms Jun-Sep.
What plant family does Erigeron inornatus var. keilii belong to?
Erigeron inornatus var. keilii is in the Asteraceae family, genus Erigeron.
Is Erigeron inornatus var. keilii rare or endangered?
Erigeron inornatus var. keilii carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.3, state rank S2.
What habitat does Erigeron inornatus var. keilii grow in?
Erigeron inornatus var. keilii grows in dry slopes, meadows, conifer forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.