Erigeron vagus
Rambling fleabane
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Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Erigeron vagus (Rambling fleabane) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by three-lobed leaf tips unique in genus.
Rambling fleabane is a California native perennial found in the central Sierra Nevada and White and Inyo Mountains on rocky talus slopes at elevations of 3,300 to 4,400 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces white to pink ray flowers in compact heads 8 to 16 millimeters wide, with rays that curl delicately when dry. Growing as a low, spreading herb only 2 to 5 centimeters tall, it forms a branched caudex with thin, rhizome-like branches and stems that are sparsely hairy. Its distinctive leaves are oblanceolate to spoon-shaped, typically 1 to 3 centimeters long, with three long-obovate lobes at the tip and a fine, glandular pubescence. The plant produces a pappus with 16 to 20 bristles, adapting to its harsh alpine environment with its compact, low-growing form.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 37 sympatric species; three-lobed leaf tips unique in genus
Habitat and range
Habitat: Talus
Elevation: 3300-4400 m
Outside California: to southeastern Oregon, Colorado
Bloom period
Erigeron vagus blooms Jun-Aug.
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 vagus native to California?
Yes. Erigeron vagus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Erigeron vagus bloom?
Erigeron vagus blooms Jun-Aug.
What plant family does Erigeron vagus belong to?
Erigeron vagus is in the Asteraceae family, genus Erigeron.
What habitat does Erigeron vagus grow in?
Erigeron vagus grows in Talus.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Erigeron aequifolius — Hall's daisy
- Erigeron algidus — Sierra fleabane
- Erigeron aliceae — Alice eastwood's fleabane
- Erigeron annuus — Annual fleabane
- Erigeron aphanactis — Rayless shaggy fleabane
- Erigeron aphanactis var. aphanactis — Rayless shaggy fleabane
- Eriophyllum ambiguum — Annual woolly sunflower
- Eriophyllum ambiguum var. ambiguum — Beautiful woolly sunflower
- Eriophyllum ambiguum var. paleaceum — Annual woolly sunflower
- Eriophyllum confertiflorum — Golden-yarrow
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.