Symphyotrichum greatae

Greata's aster

Family: Asteraceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3

Greata's aster is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native perennial found in the southern Gabilan Range on the southern slope in damp canyon places at elevations of 300 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from August to October, this plant produces pale violet ray flowers 8 to 15 millimeters long in open, leafy clusters. Growing with ascending to erect stems 50 to 120 centimeters tall that are sparsely hairy, it emerges from a long rhizome. Its leaves range from 6 to 15 centimeters long, elliptic to obovate in shape, with edges that are entire to slightly serrate and covered in fine hairs. The fruits are also notably hairy, adding texture to this distinctive canyon-dwelling aster.

Habitat: Damp places in canyons

Bloom period: Aug-Oct

Elevation: 300-2000 m

Bioregions: SnGb (s slope).

California counties: Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura

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