Erigeron tener
Thin daisy, Thin Daisy
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Erigeron tener (Thin daisy) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by cushion habit and high elevation diagnostic.
Thin daisy is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, Sierra Nevada, northern Mountains and Plateaus, and White and Inyo Mountains in sagebrush scrub, yellow-pine forest, and rocky crevices at elevations of 2,300 to 3,400 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces blue to purple ray flowers in heads 5 to 12 millimeters wide with 18 to 40 delicate rays. Growing as a compact cluster from a branched caudex, it forms small tufts with stems 2 to 15 centimeters tall covered in short white appressed hairs. Its basal leaves are long-petioled and oblanceolate to elliptic, measuring 1 to 8 centimeters long, with cauline leaves becoming progressively smaller and more strigose. The plant's distinctive pappus consists of 15 to 30 bristles, creating a soft, feathery appearance when mature.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 57 sympatric species; cushion habit and high elevation diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Crevices or ledges, sagebrush scrub, yellow-pine forest
Elevation: 2300-3400 m
Outside California: to southeastern Oregon, Wyoming, Utah
Bloom period
Erigeron tener 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 tener native to California?
Yes. Erigeron tener is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Erigeron tener bloom?
Erigeron tener blooms Jun-Sep.
What plant family does Erigeron tener belong to?
Erigeron tener is in the Asteraceae family, genus Erigeron.
What habitat does Erigeron tener grow in?
Erigeron tener grows in Crevices or ledges, sagebrush scrub, yellow-pine forest.
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.