Symphyotrichum campestre
Western meadow aster
(c) Tom Wainwright, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Symphyotrichum campestre (Western meadow aster) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by distinctive short stature and glandular stems.
Western meadow aster is a California native perennial found in the Sierra Nevada and Great Basin in dry meadows at elevations of 1,800 to 3,050 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces violet ray flowers 6 to 10 millimeters long in clusters with multiple flower heads. Growing with slender stems 10 to 40 centimeters tall that are glandular and somewhat strigose, it spreads through a long rhizome. Its cauline leaves are narrow and linear, 2 to 6 centimeters long, ranging from glabrous to slightly short-hairy with acute to obtuse tips. The fruit is covered in fine hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species; distinctive short stature and glandular stems
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry meadows
Elevation: 1800-3050 m
Outside California: to eastern Washington, Utah
Bloom period
Symphyotrichum campestre blooms Jul-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Corethrogyne: Corethrogyne has distinctive brown/reddish pappus; Symphyotrichum has white pappus; vs Erigeron: Erigeron has 50+ very thin rays per head; Symphyotrichum has fewer wider rays; vs Eurybia: Eurybia has two-toned bracts (green tips, white bases); Symphyotrichum bracts are all green; vs Aster: Aster is the old name for Symphyotrichum - they're the same plants; vs Dieteria: Dieteria has spinulose-tipped bracts; Symphyotrichum bracts lack spiny tips
Frequently asked questions
Is Symphyotrichum campestre native to California?
Yes. Symphyotrichum campestre is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Symphyotrichum campestre bloom?
Symphyotrichum campestre blooms Jul-Aug.
What plant family does Symphyotrichum campestre belong to?
Symphyotrichum campestre is in the Asteraceae family, genus Symphyotrichum.
What habitat does Symphyotrichum campestre grow in?
Symphyotrichum campestre grows in dry meadows.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Symphyotrichum chilense — California aster
- Symphyotrichum defoliatum — San bernardino aster
- Symphyotrichum foliaceum — Alpine leafybract aster
- Symphyotrichum foliaceum var. apricum — Alpine leafybract aster
- Symphyotrichum foliaceum var. parryi — Parry's aster
- Symphyotrichum frondosum — Short rayed alkali aster
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.