Stephanomeria diegensis

San diego milk aster

Family: Asteraceae · Type: annual · Native

San diego milk aster is a California native annual found in southern California coastal regions, Channel Islands, western Transverse Ranges, and Peninsular Ranges in old clearings, sand dunes, and chaparral openings at elevations of 20 to 600 meters. Flowering from July to January, this delicate plant produces pale pink to white flowers in small clusters along slender branches. Growing 50 to 200 centimeters tall with ascending or spreading branches, it has a glandular-puberulent stem with reduced bract-like cauline leaves. Its basal leaves typically wither by flowering time, creating a sparse, open growth structure. The fruit develops with smooth faces and white plumose pappus bristles that are delicate and easily dispersed by wind.

Habitat: Old clearings, sand dunes, chaparral openings, roadside embankments

Bloom period: Jul-Jan

Elevation: 20-600 m

Bioregions: SCo, ChI, WTR, PR

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