Erigeron linearis
Desert yellow fleabane
(c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Erigeron linearis (Desert yellow fleabane) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by yellow rays, cushion form, white leaf bases.
Desert yellow fleabane is a California native perennial found in northern Sierra Nevada Mountains and Modoc Plateau in grasslands, sagebrush scrub, and open rocky slopes at elevations of 1,300 to 3,100 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces bright yellow ray flowers in solitary heads up to 13 millimeters wide, with delicate rays that curl slightly when dry. Growing with compact, cespitose stems 5 to 20 centimeters tall from a thick-branched caudex, it has unbranched stems with sparse white appressed hairs. Its basal leaves are distinctively linear, 2 to 9 centimeters long, with shiny white leaf bases that wrap around the stem's base. The fruit is characterized by 10 to 20 delicate pappus bristles that aid in wind dispersal.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 46 sympatric species; key features are yellow rays, cushion form, white leaf bases
Habitat and range
Habitat: Grassland, sagebrush scrub, open, rocky slopes
Elevation: 1300-3100 m
Outside California: to British Columbia, Montana, Nevada
Bloom period
Erigeron linearis blooms May-Jul.
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 linearis native to California?
Yes. Erigeron linearis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Erigeron linearis bloom?
Erigeron linearis blooms May-Jul.
What plant family does Erigeron linearis belong to?
Erigeron linearis is in the Asteraceae family, genus Erigeron.
What habitat does Erigeron linearis grow in?
Erigeron linearis grows in Grassland, sagebrush scrub, open, rocky slopes.
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.