Oreostemma elatum

Tall alpine-aster, Tall Alpine-Aster

Family: Asteraceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Tall alpine-aster is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in northern Sierra Nevada Mountains in peatlands, marshy areas, wet meadows, and montane forest at elevations of 1,000 to 1,500 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces white ray flowers with corollas 7 to 12 millimeters long, surrounded by distinctive hardened phyllaries in creamy straw-colored tones. Growing with erect, glandless stems 35 to 70 centimeters tall, it develops an upright and elegant form in alpine and montane environments. Its leaves are oblanceolate, creating a delicate texture along the stems and contributing to the plant's graceful appearance. The flower heads feature strongly hardened phyllaries with intricate three-veined structure that divides each phyllary into four distinct bands.

Habitat: Peatlands, marshy areas, wet meadows, montane forest

Bloom period: Jul-Aug

Elevation: 1000-1500 m

Bioregions: n SNH.

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.