Symphyotrichum subulatum
Annual saltmarsh aster
(c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Symphyotrichum subulatum (Annual saltmarsh aster) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family.
Annual saltmarsh aster is a California native annual found in coastal and Central Valley regions in saltmarsh and wetland habitats. Flowering from June to October, this plant produces white to pink or lavender ray flowers in delicate open clusters, each flower less than 7 millimeters long. Growing with erect stems 20 to 90 centimeters tall that are nearly smooth and light green, it develops slender linear to oblanceolate leaves. Its leaves are generally 2 to 9 centimeters long, ranging from sessile to slightly attached, with a smooth surface and pointed tips. The plant produces slightly hairy fruits in loose, open clusters characteristic of aster species.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated from all congeners
Habitat and range
California counties: San Bernardino, Riverside, Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Kern, San Diego, Napa, Solano, Alameda, San Luis Obispo, Santa Clara, Merced, San Joaquin, Sutter, Sacramento, Butte, Yolo, Colusa, Contra Costa, Glenn, Marin, Stanislaus, Santa Barbara, Tulare, Monterey, Ventura
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 subulatum native to California?
Yes. Symphyotrichum subulatum is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Symphyotrichum subulatum grow?
Symphyotrichum subulatum occurs in San Bernardino, Riverside, Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Kern, San Diego, Napa and other counties.
What plant family does Symphyotrichum subulatum belong to?
Symphyotrichum subulatum is in the Asteraceae family, genus Symphyotrichum.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- 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
- Symphyotrichum bracteolatum — Eaton's aster
- Symphyotrichum campestre — Western meadow aster
- Syntrichopappus fremontii — Fremont's syntrichopappus
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.