Erigeron karvinskianus
Santa barbara daisy, Santa Barbara Daisy
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Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Erigeron karvinskianus (Santa barbara daisy) is a non-native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by non-native status, pink-aging rays, toothed leaves.
Santa barbara daisy is a naturalized perennial herb found in central Sierra Nevada Foothills, Central Coast, and San Francisco Bay Area in shaded rock walls and moist disturbed habitats at elevations below 1,100 meters. Flowering from April to August, this plant produces white to rose-pink ray flowers that dry to soft pink, with flower heads 7 to 10 millimeters in diameter. Growing with sprawling to erect stems 50 to 100 centimeters tall, it develops from woody roots and features spreading or sparse hairy stems. Its cauline leaves are elliptic to obovate, 1 to 5 centimeters long, with occasional shallow teeth or lobes near the leaf tips, and often displaying leaf tufts in stem axils. The plant produces up to five long-peduncled flower heads with ray flowers ranging from 45 to 80 per head.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 21 sympatric species; key features are non-native status, pink-aging rays, toothed leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: Shaded rock walls, moist disturbed habitats
Elevation: < 1100 m
Outside California: native Mexico to South America
Bloom period
Erigeron karvinskianus blooms Apr-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 karvinskianus native to California?
No. Erigeron karvinskianus is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Erigeron karvinskianus bloom?
Erigeron karvinskianus blooms Apr-Aug.
What plant family does Erigeron karvinskianus belong to?
Erigeron karvinskianus is in the Asteraceae family, genus Erigeron.
What habitat does Erigeron karvinskianus grow in?
Erigeron karvinskianus grows in Shaded rock walls, moist disturbed habitats.
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.