Erigeron parishii
Parish's daisy
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1 · Threatened
Erigeron parishii (Parish's daisy) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by silvery hairs, subshrub habit, outer pappus scales.
Parish's daisy is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native perennial found in northern San Bernardino Mountains, specifically Cushenbury Canyon, in rocky blackbush or creosote-bush scrub and pinyon/juniper woodland at elevations of 800 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces delicate pink or white ray flowers 6 to 13 millimeters long that curl attractively when dry, arranged in heads 10 to 15 millimeters wide. Growing 10 to 35 centimeters tall with a thick taproot and branched caudex, it develops silvery-hairy stems that are sparsely branched near the middle. Its basal leaves are linear and often absent by flowering time, while cauline leaves are reduced and covered in silvery strigose hairs. The fruit is four-ribbed with a distinctive pappus of 18 to 26 bristles, creating an intricate seed structure.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 19 sympatric species; key features are silvery hairs, subshrub habit, outer pappus scales
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky blackbush or creosote-bush scrub to pinyon/juniper woodland, often on limestone
Elevation: 800-2000 m
Bloom period
Erigeron parishii blooms May-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1 · Threatened
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 parishii native to California?
Yes. Erigeron parishii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Erigeron parishii bloom?
Erigeron parishii blooms May-Jun.
What plant family does Erigeron parishii belong to?
Erigeron parishii is in the Asteraceae family, genus Erigeron.
Is Erigeron parishii rare or endangered?
Erigeron parishii carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S2.
What habitat does Erigeron parishii grow in?
Erigeron parishii grows in Rocky blackbush or creosote-bush scrub to pinyon/juniper woodland, often on limestone.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- 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
- Erigeron pumilus var. intermedius — Shaggy fleabane
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · 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.