Symphyotrichum subulatum var. squamatum

Eastern annual saltmarsh aster

Family: Asteraceae · Type: annual · Not Native

Eastern annual saltmarsh aster is a naturalized annual found in southern Sacramento Valley and Central Coast bioregions in salt marshes, wet places, and disturbed ground at elevations up to 50 meters. Flowering from July to October, this plant produces white ray flowers with pale petals that tend to curl when dry. Growing 30 to 150 centimeters tall with multiple branching stems, it forms an open and spreading habit across wet or disturbed ground. Its narrow leaves are typically small and lance-shaped, covering the plant's slender stems. The flower heads are relatively small, with 21 to 30 delicate white ray flowers creating a subtle, wispy appearance.

Habitat: Salt marshes, wet places, disturbed ground

Bloom period: Jul-Oct

Elevation: <= 50 m

Bioregions: s ScV, CCo

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