Symphyotrichum spathulatum var. spathulatum
Western mountain aster
Photo: parent species Symphyotrichum spathulatum · (c) Martin Purdy, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Symphyotrichum spathulatum var. spathulatum (Western mountain aster) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by moderate size with few heads distinguishes from varieties.
Western mountain aster is a California native perennial found in northwestern California, the Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, Transverse Ranges, San Jacinto Mountains, and Great Basin in mountain meadows at elevations of 1,200 to 2,800 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces delicate white to lavender daisy-like flowers in clusters of 3 to 10 heads. Growing with upright stems 20 to 60 centimeters tall, it forms a robust clump with multiple branching stalks. Its leaves are narrow and lance-shaped, ranging from lanceolate to elliptic, with a distinctive spoon-like shape near the base of the plant. The plant's variable chromosome count suggests significant genetic diversity, contributing to its adaptability across different mountain environments.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 14 sympatric species; moderate size with few heads distinguishes from varieties
Habitat and range
Habitat: Meadows
Elevation: 1200-2800 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Tulare, El Dorado, Inyo, Plumas, Mono, Modoc, Fresno, Tuolumne, Nevada, Alpine, Butte, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tehama, Placer, Lassen, Madera, Trinity, Amador, Humboldt, Del Norte
Outside California: to northwestern Canada, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico
Bloom period
Symphyotrichum spathulatum var. spathulatum blooms Jun-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 spathulatum var. spathulatum native to California?
Yes. Symphyotrichum spathulatum var. spathulatum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Symphyotrichum spathulatum var. spathulatum bloom?
Symphyotrichum spathulatum var. spathulatum blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Symphyotrichum spathulatum var. spathulatum grow?
Symphyotrichum spathulatum var. spathulatum occurs in San Bernardino, Tulare, El Dorado, Inyo, Plumas, Mono, Modoc, Fresno and other counties, at elevations of 1200-2800 m.
What plant family does Symphyotrichum spathulatum var. spathulatum belong to?
Symphyotrichum spathulatum var. spathulatum is in the Asteraceae family, genus Symphyotrichum.
What habitat does Symphyotrichum spathulatum var. spathulatum grow in?
Symphyotrichum spathulatum var. spathulatum grows in Meadows.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Symphyotrichum subspicatum — Douglas aster
- Symphyotrichum subulatum — Annual saltmarsh aster
- Symphyotrichum subulatum var. elongatum — Eastern annual saltmarsh aster
- Symphyotrichum subulatum var. parviflorum — Eastern annual saltmarsh aster
- Symphyotrichum subulatum var. squamatum — Eastern annual saltmarsh aster
- Symphyotrichum ascendens — Western aster
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-08
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.