Symphyotrichum foliaceum
Alpine leafybract aster
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Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Symphyotrichum foliaceum (Alpine leafybract aster) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family.
Alpine leafybract aster is a California native perennial found in alpine and subalpine meadows at high elevations. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces violet to purple ray flowers 12 to 25 millimeters long in clusters or solitary heads. Growing with stems that become slightly hairy toward the top, it reaches heights typical of alpine perennials with a long rhizome system. Its leaves are elliptic to obovate, mostly glabrous, and range from acute to obtuse with nearly entire margins. The plant's distinctive ray flowers and delicate leaf structure make it a characteristic component of high-elevation mountain ecosystems.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated from all congeners
Habitat and range
California counties: Mendocino, El Dorado, Siskiyou, Tulare, Tuolumne, Alpine, Modoc, Nevada, Riverside, Butte, Trinity, Mariposa, Lake, Fresno, Placer, Madera, Del Norte, Lassen
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 foliaceum native to California?
Yes. Symphyotrichum foliaceum is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Symphyotrichum foliaceum grow?
Symphyotrichum foliaceum occurs in Mendocino, El Dorado, Siskiyou, Tulare, Tuolumne, Alpine, Modoc, Nevada and other counties.
What plant family does Symphyotrichum foliaceum belong to?
Symphyotrichum foliaceum is in the Asteraceae family, genus Symphyotrichum.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Symphyotrichum foliaceum var. apricum — Alpine leafybract aster
- Symphyotrichum foliaceum var. parryi — Parry's aster
- Symphyotrichum frondosum — Short rayed alkali aster
- Symphyotrichum greatae — Greata's aster
- Symphyotrichum hendersonii — Henderson's aster
- Symphyotrichum lanceolatum var. hesperium — Western lance leaf aster
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.