Erigeron klamathensis
Klamath fleabane
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Trevor Van Loon · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Erigeron klamathensis (Klamath fleabane) is a native California perennial in the Asteraceae family, recognized by dense reflexed hairs, purple rays, white-margined bracts.
Klamath fleabane is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges and northern California Ranges in open, rocky slopes and ridges at elevations of 700 to 2,200 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces lavender to purple ray flowers 8 to 10 millimeters long in compact heads 7 to 10 millimeters wide. Growing as a small herb 6 to 15 centimeters tall with a woody, sometimes branched taproot, it develops slender woody offsets. Its cauline leaves are narrowly lance-oblong to narrowly obovate, densely covered in long hairs and extending up to 40 centimeters in length. The flower heads are sparse, with 1 to 5 clusters featuring 22 to 40 ray flowers with white-margined phyllary tips.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 35 sympatric species; key features are dense reflexed hairs, purple rays, white-margined bracts
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, rocky slopes, ridges, crevices
Elevation: (400)700-2200 m
California counties: Humboldt, Siskiyou, Trinity, Shasta, Del Norte
Outside California: south-central Oregon
Bloom period
Erigeron klamathensis blooms Jun-Sep.
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 klamathensis native to California?
Yes. Erigeron klamathensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Erigeron klamathensis bloom?
Erigeron klamathensis blooms Jun-Sep.
Where in California does Erigeron klamathensis grow?
Erigeron klamathensis occurs in Humboldt, Siskiyou, Trinity, Shasta, Del Norte, at elevations of (400)700-2200 m.
What plant family does Erigeron klamathensis belong to?
Erigeron klamathensis is in the Asteraceae family, genus Erigeron.
What habitat does Erigeron klamathensis grow in?
Erigeron klamathensis grows in Open, rocky slopes, ridges, crevices.
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.