Symphyotrichum subulatum var. parviflorum

Eastern annual saltmarsh aster

Family: Asteraceae · Type: annual · Native

Eastern annual saltmarsh aster is a California native annual found in the Central Valley, Central Western, Southwestern, and Desert Son bioregions in marshes and disturbed places at elevations below 1,200 meters. Flowering from July to October, this plant produces delicate white to pink ray flowers approximately 2 to 3 millimeters long that curl or coil when drying. Growing with slender stems 70 to 150 centimeters tall, it spreads widely in open, moist habitats. Its leaves are narrow and lance-shaped, typical of plants adapted to marshy environments. The compact flower heads feature numerous thin ray flowers that create a soft, wispy appearance characteristic of annual asters.

Habitat: Marshes, disturbed places

Bloom period: Jul-Oct

Elevation: < 1200 m

Bioregions: GV, CW, SW, DSon

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