Oreostemma alpigenum var. andersonii
Tundra aster
DeanWmTaylor (via Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Oreostemma alpigenum var. andersonii (Tundra aster) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family.
Tundra aster is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, San Jacinto Mountains, Warner Mountains, and White and Inyo Mountains in peatland habitats at elevations of 1,200 to 3,500 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces white ray flowers 10 to 16 millimeters long with pale disk flowers nestled in leaf-like phyllaries. Growing with slender stems 4 to 40 centimeters tall, it has an upright to spreading growth habit. Its leaves are distinctive oblanceolate shapes, ranging from nearly glabrous to densely long-soft-hairy. The fruit is covered in soft hairs throughout its surface.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Co-occurs with 2 species; height and leaf shape are key differentiators
Habitat and range
Habitat: Peatlands (sometimes with
Elevation: 1200-3500 m
California counties: Fresno, San Bernardino, El Dorado, Sierra, Tulare, Inyo, Mono, Alpine, Modoc, Trinity, Nevada, Amador, Humboldt, Madera, Placer, Shasta, Tehama, Butte, Lassen, Mariposa, Tuolumne, Plumas, Riverside, Siskiyou, Del Norte, Calaveras
Outside California: Oregon, Nevada
Bloom period
Oreostemma alpigenum var. andersonii blooms Jun-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Erigeron: Oreostemma has mostly basal leaves on nearly leafless stems; Erigeron typically has leaves along stem.; vs Symphyotrichum: Oreostemma has solitary heads and basal leaves; Symphyotrichum has clustered heads and stem leaves.; vs Aster: Oreostemma has solitary heads with basal leaves; Aster typically branched with stem leaves.; vs Syntrichopappus: Oreostemma smooth to slightly hairy; Syntrichopappus densely woolly overall.
Frequently asked questions
Is Oreostemma alpigenum var. andersonii native to California?
Yes. Oreostemma alpigenum var. andersonii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Oreostemma alpigenum var. andersonii bloom?
Oreostemma alpigenum var. andersonii blooms Jun-Sep.
Where in California does Oreostemma alpigenum var. andersonii grow?
Oreostemma alpigenum var. andersonii occurs in Fresno, San Bernardino, El Dorado, Sierra, Tulare, Inyo, Mono, Alpine and other counties, at elevations of 1200-3500 m.
What plant family does Oreostemma alpigenum var. andersonii belong to?
Oreostemma alpigenum var. andersonii is in the Asteraceae family, genus Oreostemma.
What habitat does Oreostemma alpigenum var. andersonii grow in?
Oreostemma alpigenum var. andersonii grows in Peatlands (sometimes with.
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.