Sericocarpus oregonensis
Oregon whitetop aster
no rights reserved · CC0
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Sericocarpus oregonensis (Oregon whitetop aster) is a native California subshrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by Only Sericocarpus in CA (congeners are its own subspp.); congested flat-topped heads, keeled white-based phyllaries.
Oregon whitetop aster is a California native perennial found in northern California mountain regions in conifer forests and mountain meadows. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces white ray flowers with purple disk anthers in flat-topped clusters. Growing with erect stems 40 to 100 centimeters tall that are glabrous to slightly hairy, it develops a woody, fibrous-rooted caudex. Its leaves are mostly cauline, with lower leaves 3 to 8 centimeters long, oblanceolate to elliptic, and somewhat hairy. The fruit is 2.5 to 5.5 millimeters long with an appressed-hairy surface.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Only Sericocarpus in CA (congeners are its own subspp.); congested flat-topped heads, keeled white-based phyllaries
Habitat and range
California counties: Humboldt, Calaveras, El Dorado, Shasta, Butte, Plumas, Yuba, Sierra, Nevada, Trinity, Madera, Del Norte, Siskiyou, Mariposa
How to tell it apart
vs Chaetopappa: Sericocarpus has clustered heads with white disks; Chaetopappa typically yellow disks.; vs Symphyotrichum: Sericocarpus has white disk flowers in tight clusters; Symphyotrichum has yellow disk flowers.; vs Eurybia: Sericocarpus heads tightly clustered; Eurybia heads more loosely arranged.; vs Almutaster: Sericocarpus heads clustered at tips; Almutaster heads solitary on long branches.; vs Machaeranthera: Sericocarpus has simple leaves and white disks; Machaeranthera has fern-like leaves and yellow disks.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sericocarpus oregonensis native to California?
Yes. Sericocarpus oregonensis is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Sericocarpus oregonensis grow?
Sericocarpus oregonensis occurs in Humboldt, Calaveras, El Dorado, Shasta, Butte, Plumas, Yuba, Sierra and other counties.
What plant family does Sericocarpus oregonensis belong to?
Sericocarpus oregonensis is in the Asteraceae family, genus Sericocarpus.
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.