Erigeron lassenianus var. lassenianus
Mt. Lassen daisy
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steve Matson · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Erigeron lassenianus var. lassenianus (Mt. Lassen daisy) is a native California subshrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by purple stems, serpentine habitat, glandular bracts.
Mt. Lassen daisy is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern California High Cascade Range, and northern Sierra Nevada High Country in open sites, gravelly flats, and mixed conifer forests at elevations of 600 to 2,300 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces white to lavender ray flowers with well-developed flower heads. Growing with slender stems up to 30 centimeters tall, it forms compact clumps in rocky mountain landscapes. Its leaves are typically narrow and lance-shaped, clustered near the base of the plant with smaller leaves along the stem. This distinctive mountain daisy thrives in serpentine and glacial moraine environments, representing a classic alpine wildflower of northern California's rugged mountain habitats.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 56 sympatric species; key features are purple stems, serpentine habitat, glandular bracts
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open sites, gravelly and brushy flats, mixed conifer forest, generally in serpentine or glacial moraine
Elevation: 600-2300 m
Bloom period
Erigeron lassenianus var. lassenianus 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 lassenianus var. lassenianus native to California?
Yes. Erigeron lassenianus var. lassenianus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Erigeron lassenianus var. lassenianus bloom?
Erigeron lassenianus var. lassenianus blooms Jun-Sep.
What plant family does Erigeron lassenianus var. lassenianus belong to?
Erigeron lassenianus var. lassenianus is in the Asteraceae family, genus Erigeron.
What habitat does Erigeron lassenianus var. lassenianus grow in?
Erigeron lassenianus var. lassenianus grows in Open sites, gravelly and brushy flats, mixed conifer forest, generally in serpentine or glacial moraine.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.