Erigeron utahensis
Utah daisy
(c) Andrey Zharkikh, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3
Erigeron utahensis (Utah daisy) is a native California subshrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by Providence Mountains location and large coiling rays diagnostic.
Utah daisy is a rare (CNPS 2B.3) California native perennial found in the eastern desert mountains including Providence Mountains on limestone slopes at elevations around 1,500 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces white to pink or lavender flowers in daisy-like heads with rays 12 to 15 millimeters long that curl when dry. Growing 10 to 50 centimeters tall with densely gray-green stems that are stiffly hairy, it emerges from a thick, peeling taproot with a branched woody base. Its basal leaves are narrowly oblanceolate and typically absent by flowering time, while stem leaves become progressively smaller and densely covered in stiff hairs. The plant develops 1 to 4 flower heads with involucres 5 to 7 millimeters tall and approximately 15 millimeters wide.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 14 sympatric species; Providence Mountains location and large coiling rays diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Limestone slopes
Elevation: +- 1500 m.
Outside California: to Colorado, northern Arizona
Bloom period
Erigeron utahensis blooms May-Jul.
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 utahensis native to California?
Yes. Erigeron utahensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Erigeron utahensis bloom?
Erigeron utahensis blooms May-Jul.
What plant family does Erigeron utahensis belong to?
Erigeron utahensis is in the Asteraceae family, genus Erigeron.
Is Erigeron utahensis rare or endangered?
Erigeron utahensis carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.3, state rank S2.
What habitat does Erigeron utahensis grow in?
Erigeron utahensis grows in Limestone slopes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Erigeron vagus — Rambling fleabane
- Erigeron aequifolius — Hall's daisy
- Erigeron algidus — Sierra fleabane
- Erigeron aliceae — Alice eastwood's fleabane
- Erigeron annuus — Annual fleabane
- Erigeron aphanactis — Rayless shaggy fleabane
- Eriophyllum ambiguum — Annual woolly sunflower
- Eriophyllum ambiguum var. ambiguum — Beautiful woolly sunflower
- Eriophyllum ambiguum var. paleaceum — Annual woolly sunflower
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.