Eurybia merita
Subalpine aster
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3
Eurybia merita (Subalpine aster) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by . Key features: decumbent/ascending habit, flat-topped inflorescence, KR only.
Subalpine aster is a rare (CNPS 2B.3) California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges in montane forest at elevations of 1,300 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces purple to violet ray flowers 7 to 12 millimeters long in flat-topped clusters. Growing with decumbent to ascending stems 20 to 50 centimeters tall that are short-soft-wavy-hairy, it develops woody rhizomes with age. Its lanceolate to oblanceolate leaves range 1 to 8 centimeters long, with small ear-like lobes at the base of mid-stem leaves and margins that are entire to minutely serrate. The fruit is finely strigose with a white to red-brown pappus 5 to 6 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species. Key features: decumbent/ascending habit, flat-topped inflorescence, KR only
Habitat and range
Habitat: Montane forest
Elevation: 1300-2000 m
Outside California: to British Columbia, South Dakota
Bloom period
Eurybia merita blooms Jul-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.3
How to tell it apart
vs Symphyotrichum: Symphyotrichum has all-green bracts; Eurybia has two-toned bracts with white bases; vs Aster: Aster typically refers to Symphyotrichum; check if bracts have white bases for Eurybia; vs Erigeron: Erigeron has many thread-like rays; Eurybia has fewer broader rays and two-toned bracts; vs Chaetopappa: Chaetopappa is a tiny 2-6 inch desert plant; Eurybia is robust and forest-dwelling; vs Almutaster: Almutaster has all-green bracts and grows in alkaline meadows; Eurybia has two-toned bracts
Frequently asked questions
Is Eurybia merita native to California?
Yes. Eurybia merita is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eurybia merita bloom?
Eurybia merita blooms Jul-Aug.
What plant family does Eurybia merita belong to?
Eurybia merita is in the Asteraceae family, genus Eurybia.
Is Eurybia merita rare or endangered?
Eurybia merita carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.3, state rank S3.
What habitat does Eurybia merita grow in?
Eurybia merita grows in Montane forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.