Erigeron oxyphyllus
Wand-like fleabane daisy
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3
Erigeron oxyphyllus (Wand-like fleabane daisy) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by wand-like stems, withering leaves, desert habitat.
Wand-like fleabane daisy is a rare (CNPS 2B.3) California native perennial found in the southern Desert region in rocky hillsides around seeps or springs, canyons, and cliff bases at elevations of 700 to 1,100 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces white to lavender or blue-tinged ray flowers 6 to 9 millimeters long, with delicate petals that slightly curl at the tips when dry. Growing 5 to 50 centimeters tall with ascending stems that are glabrous and without glands, it emerges from a woody, thick-branched taproot. Its leaves are oblanceolate, becoming progressively smaller and more linear toward the stem's top, with sparse, minute strigose hairs. The plant forms between 1 to 8 flower heads in compact clusters, each involucre 4 to 6 millimeters long with nearly equal phyllary bracts.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; key features are wand-like stems, withering leaves, desert habitat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky hillsides around seeps or springs, canyons, cliff bases
Elevation: 700-1100 m
Outside California: Arizona, Mexico (Sonora)
Bloom period
Erigeron oxyphyllus blooms May-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.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 oxyphyllus native to California?
Yes. Erigeron oxyphyllus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Erigeron oxyphyllus bloom?
Erigeron oxyphyllus blooms May-Jun.
What plant family does Erigeron oxyphyllus belong to?
Erigeron oxyphyllus is in the Asteraceae family, genus Erigeron.
Is Erigeron oxyphyllus rare or endangered?
Erigeron oxyphyllus carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.3, state rank S2.
What habitat does Erigeron oxyphyllus grow in?
Erigeron oxyphyllus grows in Rocky hillsides around seeps or springs, canyons, cliff bases.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Erigeron parishii — Parish's daisy
- Erigeron petrophilus — Rock-loving fleabane
- Erigeron petrophilus var. petrophilus — Cliff fleabane
- Erigeron petrophilus var. sierrensis — Northern sierra daisy
- Erigeron petrophilus var. viscidulus — Klamath rock daisy
- Erigeron philadelphicus var. philadelphicus — Philadelphia fleabane
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.